SFA Trio Earns Preseason Honors
7/25/2012 12:00:00 AM | Football
July 25, 2012
NACOGDOCHES, Texas - Seniors Gralyn Crawford, Cordell Roberson and Willie Jefferson have been named to the 2012 College Sports Madness Preseason All-America team announced publication officials Wednesday afternoon. Jefferson earned first-team honors, while Crawford and Roberson garnered second-team recognition.
The 2011 Southland Conference Newcomer of the Year, Jefferson enters his senior campaign with high expectations after a season that saw the Lumberjacks lead the nation in sacks and tackles for losses. Jefferson led the league, and finished tied for fourth in the nation averaging 1.36 sacks per game. He finished the year with 15 sacks for 114 yards in losses. He set the school single-game record with his 4.5 sacks against McNeese State, only to close out the season by setting the conference's record with a five-sack performance in the regular-season finale at Northwestern State.
Crawford and Roberson have been one of the nation's toughest one-two punches in the nation over the course of the past two seasons. They will leave SFA as two of the school's all-time top receivers.
A two-way threat for the Lumberjacks, Crawford was named to the All-America squad as a punt returner. One of the top return specialists in the nation over the course of his career, Crawford has returned four kicks and a punt for a touchdown during his time in Nacogdoches. A two-time All-American, Crawford has averaged better than 24 yards per kick, and 13 yards per punt during his career.
As a junior, Crawford averaged 28.1 yards per kick return, including three for touchdowns, while averaging 13.3 yards per punt return including one returned for a score. Despite the fact most teams were kicking away from him last season he still averaged nearly 24 yards per kick return, with a touchdown, and 13.5 per punt return.
A 2009 All-America selection, Roberson enters his final collegiate season looking to place his name among the all-time best receivers in school and conference history. The two-time first-team All-SLC selection enters the 2012 campaign second all-time at SFA in touchdown receptions (29), seventh in career receptions (144) and seventh in career receiving yards (2,185).
During his junior campaign, Roberson led the nation with 16 touchdown receptions. He finished the year with 61 receptions for 1,011 yards, and finished among the nation's top 20 averaging better than 84 receiving yards per game.
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