Ten Scarlet Knights Named Preseason All-BIG EAST by Athlon
Jun 26 | Football
PISCATAWAY, N.J. (June 25, 2012) – Ten Rutgers football players were selected to Preseason All-BIG EAST First, Second and Third Teams by Athlon Magazine on Tuesday. The recognized Scarlet Knights, the largest group for any conference team, included senior LB Khaseem Greene (Elizabeth, N.J.), sophomore OL Kaleb Johnson (Jacksonville, Fla.), junior CB Logan Ryan (Berlin, N.J.) and senior DT Scott Vallone (Central Islip, N.Y.) as First Team selections.
Greene earned Co-BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Year honors in 2011 after leading the league with 141 tackles, including 14.0 tackles-for-loss and 3.5 sacks. Johnson was among the top true freshman offensive linemen in the country, receiving Freshman All-America accolades from the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA), Rivals.com and Phil Steele. Ryan finished his first season as a starting cornerback as one of the top at the position in the BIG EAST, recording 67 tackles, three interceptions and 14 pass breakups to earn All-BIG EAST Second Team recognition. Vallone, a three-year starter in the defensive trenches, has started a conference-best 38 games in his career.
Rutgers’ Second Team honorees included sophomore RB Jawan Jamison (Starke, Fla.), sophomore WR Brandon Coleman (Accokeek, Md.), senior LB Steve Beauharnais (Saddle Brook, N.J.), senior S Duron Harmon (Magnolia, Del.) and junior WR Jeremy Deering (Tampa, Fla.).
Jamison totaled 897 rushing yards and nine touchdowns on the ground in his first season in the backfield. An constant deep threat, Coleman snagged 17 catches for 552 yards and six scores last season. Beauharnais, one of RU’s most experienced defenders, has started 15 straight games and a total of 29 in his career. Harmon ranked second in the BIG EAST with five interceptions last season. Deering was the top kick returner in the conference and one of the best in the country in 2011, averaging 31.2 yards per return to lead the BIG EAST and rank sixth nationally.
Senior OT R.J. Dill (Mechanicsburg, Pa.) was picked to the Third Team. The Maryland graduate started 33 games in his three-year stint as a Terrapin.
The Scarlet Knights open their 2012 campaign at Tulane on Sept. 1 at 8 p.m. on CBS Sports Network. RU opens its home schedule at High Point Solutions Stadium with Howard on Sept. 8 at 3:30 p.m. on SNY/ESPN3.
Athlon's 2012 Preseason All-BIG EAST Team
First Team Offense
QB Teddy Bridgewater, Louisville
RB Ray Graham, Pittsburgh
RB Lyle McCombs, Connecticut
WR Sterling Griffin, South Florida
WR Alec Lemon, Syracuse
TE Ryan Griffin, Connecticut
C Mario Benavides, Louisville
OL Kaleb Johnson, Rutgers
OL Adam Masters, Connecticut
OL Mark Popek, South Florida
OL Justin Pugh, Syracuse
First Team Defense
DL Aaron Donald, Pittsburgh
DL Ryne Giddins, South Florida
DL Scott Vallone, Rutgers
DL Trevardo Williams, Connecticut
LB Khaseem Greene, Rutgers
LB DeDe Lattimore, South Florida
LB Sio Moore, Connecticut
CB Adrian Bushell, Louisville
CB Logan Ryan, Rutgers
S Jarred Holley, Pittsburgh
S Hakeem Smith, Louisville
First-Team Specialists
K Maikon Bonani, South Florida
P Pat O'Donnell, Cincinnati
KR Ralph David Abernathy IV, Cincinnati
PR Nick Williams, Connecticut
Second Team Offense
QB B.J. Daniels, South Florida
RB Matt Brown, Temple
RB Jawan Jamison, Rutgers
WR Brandon Coleman, Rutgers
WR DeVante Parker, Louisville
TE Hubie Graham, Pittsburgh
C Ryan Turnley, Pittsburgh
OL Austen Bujnoch, Cincinnati
OL Zack Chibane, Syracuse
OL Chris Jacobson, Pittsburgh
OL John Miller, Louisville
Second Team Defense
DL Dan Giordano, Cincinnati
DL Jesse Joseph, Connecticut
DL Marcus Smith, Louisville
DL Walter Stewart, Cincinnati
LB Steve Beauharnais, Rutgers
LB Preston Brown, Louisville
LB Marquis Spruill, Syracuse
CB Kayvon Webster, South Florida
CB Blidi Wreh-Wilson, Connecticut
S Drew Frey, Cincinnati
S Duron Harmon, Rutgers
Second Team Specialists
K Ross Krautman, Syracuse
P Brandon McManus, Temple
KR Jeremy Deering, Rutgers
PR Matt Brown, Temple
Third Team Offense
QB Ryan Nassib, Syracuse
RB Dominique Brown, Louisville
RB Demetris Murray, South Florida
WR Anthony McClung, Cincinnati
WR Devin Street, Pittsburgh
TE Evan Landi, South Florida
C Macky MacPherson, Syracuse
OL Danous Estenor, South Florida
OL R.J. Dill, Rutgers
OL Quinterrius Eatmon, South Florida
OL Martin Wallace, Temple
Third Team Defense
DL Levi Brown, Temple
DL Deon Goggins, Syracuse
DL Roy Philon, Louisville
DL Elkino Watson, South Florida
LB Sam Barrington, South Florida
LB Maalik Bomar, Cincinnati
LB Jory Johnson, Connecticut
CB Dwayne Gratz, Connecticut
CB K'Waun Williams, Pittsburgh
S Jon Lejiste, South Florida
S Shamarko Thomas, Syracuse
Third Team Specialists
K Kevin Harper, Pittsburgh
P Cole Wagner, Connecticut
KR Nick Williams, Connecticut
PR Ronald Jones, Pittsburgh
