The Joplin Globe, Joplin, MO

Pittsburg State Sports

Discussion

December 10, 2012

MSSU's Williams, PSU's Brown earn AFCA All-America honors

The Joplin Globe

— Missouri Southern’s Brandon Williams earned his second All-America honor in as many weeks on Monday while Pittsburg State’s John Brown picked up his first of this postseason.

The duo was honored by the American Football Coaches Association.

Williams — who was named the National Defensive Player of the Year by the Beyond Sports Network last week — earned his third consecutive AFCA All-America nod. He joins Minnesota State-Mankato’s Tywan Mitchell (1996-98) and Mars Hill’s Jonas Randolph (2009-11) as the only players to earn three straight Division II honors.

Williams finished third in the nation in forced fumbles with five while recording 8.5 sacks and 16.5 tackles for loss. He is the school’s all-time career sacks leader with 27 and finished the 2012 season with 68 tackles.

He was invited to play in the Senior Bowl in January.

Brown, a 5-foot-7, 171-pound junior for the Gorillas, earned his first AFCA honors after being named to other All-America teams as a sophomore.

The Homestead, Fla., native caught 63 passes for 973 yards (15.4 yards per catch and 97.3 yards per game) while hauling in eight touchdowns this season. He compiled 2,000 all-purpose yards this season, leading the MIAA and finishing second in the nation.

Two other MIAA players earned All-America honors on Monday — Missouri Western senior running back Michael Hill and Lindenwood junior defensive back Pierre Desir.

Text Only
Pittsburg State Sports