2014 Don Hansen Football Gazette All-America Squad
PITTSBURG, Kan. – West Chester University landed five players on the 2014
Don Hansen Football Gazette All-America team in a released recently by that organization.
Cornerback,
Al-Hajj Shabazz (Philadephia, Pa./John Bartram) and tight end
Tim Brown (Clifton Heights, Pa./Upper Darby) were selected to the first team as the best at their respective positions. Quarterback,
Sean McCartney (Doylestown, Pa./Archbishop Wood) and linebacker
Ronell Williams (Chester, Pa./Chester) each received third team nods while running back/return specialist
Brandon Monk (West Grove, Pa./Avon Grove) was an honorable mention pick as an all-purpose player for his efforts.
Shabazz led the team as a shutdown corner, finishing in the top five in passes defensed and top three in interceptions. He previously participated in the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl, compiling six solo tackles for second on the team.
In the secondary, Shabazz made a name for himself by leading the PSAC with 15 pass breakups.
The Cliff Harris Award finalist was the leading vote-getter among DBs in All-PSAC East balloting earlier this year. Over his four-year career, the Philadelphia native accumulated 10 interceptions and 33 passes defended. He also added 152 total tackles, including 101 solo stops, while also blocking a punt. He ranked seventh on the team in tackles this past fall with 39. Shabazz now he will try his hand at the pros as he awaits the 2015 NFL Entry Draft this coming April.
Brown put together the most prolific single season for a tight end in school history. The 6-3, 235 lbs., target for McCartney led the Golden Rams in receptions (53), receiving yards (1,059) and touchdown receptions (17). His TD receptions rank third in Division II while his receiving yards are the most by a tight end in Division II as well. He was a true offensive threat this season leading the team in every receiving category including total yards (1,059), yards per-game (81.4), and yards per-catch (19.95).
Through his remarkable season, his stats would eclipsed records held by former Golden Rams tight end Joe Senser from his play in the late 1970s. Senser went on to play in the NFL for the Minnesota Vikings for five years in the 1980s. Brown scored a team-high 17 touchdowns, good for third in the NCAA and first for tight ends. His 90-yd TD reception is the second longest reception in the PSAC this season.
He already has collected an all-region selection by Don Hasan Football Gazette, Daktronics Inc., and All-ECAC squad as well.
McCartney put together one of the most successful seasons by a quarterback at West Chester. He threw for a Division II-best 42 touchdowns while leading his team to an 11-2 record and first round playoff win over PSAC rival Slippery Rock, before falling to Concord in the second round. For his efforts, the talented quarterback was named the offensive player of the year in Super Region 1 by Don Hansen Football Gazette and the ECAC. He was also named the PSAC East offensive player of the year and finished fifth in the Harlon Hill Trophy balloting.
The sixth-year senior ranked sixth in the nation in points responsible for (266) and passing yards (3,744). He ranked seventh in points responsible for per game (20.6) and passing efficiency (163.4). He ranked 11th in passing yards per attempt (8.96) and passing yards per completion (14.98). McCartney also ranked 19th in passing yards per game (288.0). McCartney broke five single-season school records and two more career records during an illustrious senior campaign. His 3,744 passing yards for sixth in the NCAA and 42 passing TDs are both new school records while his 3,669 total yards of offense is a new mark as well. His 59.0 career completion percentage is also the best of any quarterback in school history.
McCartney also threw a TD pass in 19 consecutive games, breaking the school record held by WCU's current offensive coordinator and QB coach, Bill Zwaan, Jr. His 92 career TD passes and his 9,595 career passing yards are both second all-time to Mike Mitros (1996-99). McCartney wound up 28-8 as a starter in 46 career games (36 starts), including 24-4 over the last two campaigns. He finished the year ranked among the Division II leaders in eight different offensive categories, after averaging almost 15 yards per completion.
He also was name to the third team AP Little All-America. It marked the third straight year that West Chester University has been represented on one of the three AP Little All-America squads. The Associated Press Little All-America team honors players from Division II, III and NAIA. Last year, Rondell White was a first team selection, and the year before that, it was Ronell Williams being named to the first team. It is also the first time since 2006-08 that the Golden Rams have put a player on the AP Little All-America team for three consecutive seasons (Lateef Ferguson – 2006, 2007 and Mike Washington 2008).
Williams is the senior middle linebacker who made first team All-PSAC East for the third consecutive year for the Golden Rams.
Despite missing three games to a knee injury, Williams ranked second on the team in tackles with 68 stops. He graduated this past December as the third all-time leading tackler in school history and second all-time in assisted tackles. His 40 assisted tackles was second on the team as well. The Chester, Pa., native was named to three preseason All-America squads, while being named the ECAC Defensive Player of the Year and first-team All-Super Region 1 in 2013.To this day, he remains the only sophomore in school history to be an AFCA All-America, also being named a Little AP All-American in 2012.
Monk ran his way to being an All-PSAC East running back, but was also one of the most dangerous return men in the region. Monk amassed 2,078 all-purpose yards this year, averaging out to 159.8 all-purpose yards per game, which was good enough for 16th in the NCAA for all-purpose yards per game. The junior rushed for 1,296 yards on the season and nine touchdowns, totaling 11 for the year. In a 35-24 win over East Stroudsburg, Monk gashed the Warriors for a season-high 257 yards. Monk added 278 yards receiving, 200 yards in punt returns and 304 yards in kickoff returns to his all-purpose totals as well.
