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Florida Atlantic University Athletics
FAU Places Three on First Team All Sun-Belt Team
12/9/2008 12:00:00 AM | Football
Dec. 9, 2008
BOCA RATON, Fla.-Seven Florida Atlantic University football players were named to the first and second teams of the All Sun-Belt Team by the Sun Belt Conference (SBC) on Tuesday.
FAU players selected to the first team are all seniors: defensive lineman Jervonte Jackson (Opa Locka/ North Miami Beach High School), linebacker Frantz Joseph (Fort Lauderdale./Fort Lauderdale High School), and defensive back Corey Small (Naples/Gulf Coast High School).
During the 2008 season Jackson recorded 40 total tackles, 2.5 tackles for a loss, 1.5 sacks, four pass break-ups and one fumble recovery. A second team selection in 2007, Jackson has been a constant force on the defensive line only missing one game in the last four seasons.
Joseph, the leading tackler in the SBC and second in the nation, earned his second consecutive first team honor. Joseph tallied 141 total tackles, nine tackles for a loss, two pass break-ups, two fumble recoveries, one forced fumble and a half sack. Joseph broke his own school record for tackles in a season, as well as set the single game (16) and career (333) tackle mark.
Small joins Joseph as a repeat first team All Sun-Belt selection. Small was credited with 78 tackles on the season, with five tackles for a loss, one pass break, two forced fumbles and a team-leading four interceptions. Small's 12 career-interceptions are second on FAU's all-time charts.
Earning second team All Sun-Belt honors are senior running back Charles Pierre (Orlando./ Lake Highland Prep), junior tight end Jamari Grant (Jacksonville./First Coast High School), and senior offensive linemen Nick Paris (Palm Bay./Palm Bay High School) and John Rizzo (Parkland/Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School).
Pierre ran to one of the best seasons in FAU history as he established single game (194), season (937) and career (2,992) rushing records. Pierre could become the first FAU running back to eclipse the 1,000 yard mark with 63 yards in the upcoming Motor City Bowl. Paris and Rizzo are senior leaders on an offensive line that averaged 141 rush and 250.5 pass yards per game and allowed just 12 sacks to rank among the country's top 10 units. Grant was second on the team with 40 receptions for 572 yards and four touchdowns.
FAU (6-6) will continue its season against Central Michigan University (8-4) at the Motor City Bowl in Detroit, Michigan on Friday, December 26 at 7:30 p.m. The game will be shown on ESPN.
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