Lehigh's Will Rackley Named AP FCS First Team All-America

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  • #3010

    TheFan
    Participant

    http://www.patriotleague.org/sports/m-f … 10aae.html

    Two Patriot Leaguers Named First-Team AP FCS All-Americans
    Colgate’s Eachus, Lehigh’s Rackley Each Honored

    Dec. 15, 2010

    Center Valley, Pa. – Colgate junior running back Nate Eachus moved one step closer to becoming a consensus first-team Football Championship Subdivision All-American on Wednesday, as he was named to the Associated Press squad after earlier being honored by Walter Camp and the American Football Coaches Association.

    Eachus was the lone Patriot Leaguer on the first two All-America teams, but he was joined as a first-team Associated Press selection by Lehigh senior offensive lineman Will Rackley. It is the fifth consecutive season where multiple Patriot Leaguers were named AP All-Americans.

    Eachus and Rackley became the first Patriot League student-athletes to earn first-team Associated Press honors since Fordham’s Tad Kornegay and Lehigh’s Adam Bergen in 2004. There have now been 27 student-athletes selected as first-team AP All-Americans since the inception of the Patriot League in 1986.

    Rackley also earned a third-team spot from the AP in 2009, and becomes the first Patriot Leaguer to earn multiple All-America nods from the organization since Fordham punter Ben Dato and Colgate linebacker Mike Gallihugh each made the third team in 2006 and second team in 2007. Rackley is the 12th student-athlete in Patriot League history to earn a pair of AP All-America honors.

    Both players earned their third consecutive first-team All-Patriot League selection in November.

    Eachus continued his run of postseason hardware after his selections by Walter Camp and AFCA, which each honor just one team of student-athletes. The 2010 Patriot League Offensive Player of the Year, Eachus had one of the best seasons for a running back in school and Patriot League history. He carried 317 times for 1,871 yards and 21 touchdowns for the season, and also caught 17 passes for 160 yards and a score. The 1,871 rushing yards stand third in a single-season in Patriot League history, just four yards behind former teammate Jordan Scott (2007). Eachus averaged 170.1 rushing yards per game, which leads the FCS by nearly 25 yards per contest ahead of any other player. It is the second-best mark in Patriot League annals, just behind Scott’s 170.5 average in 2007.

    Eachus’ 22 total touchdowns also tie for the lead the nation, and he single-handedly topped the FCS charts with 12.0 points per game. The rushing-touchdown mark tied for the third-best single-season total in League history, while the 12.0 points per game are the second highest in League annals. Eachus matched a Patriot League record with four 200-yard rushing performances, including a single-game League and school-record 291-yard rushing day against Cornell on Oct. 16. He ran for 124 yards or more in 10 of Colgate’s 11 games.

    Eachus was named a finalist for the Walter Payton Award, given to the most outstanding player in the FCS.

    One of the most dominant offensive linemen in Patriot League history, Rackley started the final 40 games of his career for Lehigh. He anchored an offensive line that allowed just 14 sacks in 2010 and ranked second in the Patriot League in passing offense and scoring offense. Rackley earned six preseason All-America nods entering the 2010 campaign.

    Three of the four major FCS All-America teams have been released, with only The Sports Network squad yet to come. If Eachus makes that list, he will be the first consensus All-American from the Patriot League since Colgate offensive lineman Nick Hennessey in 2008. He is one of only 12 players in the nation that still has an opportunity to finish as a consensus All-American.

    #3011

    TheFan
    Participant

    http://www.lehighsports.com/sports/foot … _team.aspx

    Rackley named to Associated Press FCS All-America first team
    —————————————————————————–Posted: 12/15/2010 BETHLEHEM, Pa. –

    Lehigh senior captain Will Rackley has been named to the 2010 Associated Press FCS All-America first team, it was announced on Wednesday. Rackley served as a rock on the offensive line for Lehigh, starting all 13 games at left tackle for the Patriot League Champions. He becomes the first Lehigh first-team AP All-American since Adam Bergen in 2004.

    “I’m very happy to see Will named to the AP All-America first team,” said Lehigh head coach Andy Coen. “It’s very well deserved. This year Will played the best football of any of his four years at Lehigh and for the last couple years he has been a dominant offensive player in the Patriot League.”
    One of the most dominant offensive linemen in Patriot League history, Rackley started the final 40 games of his career in the Brown and White. Rackley anchored an offensive line that allowed just 14 sacks in 2010 and ranked second in the Patriot League in passing offense and scoring offense. He also paved the way for Lehigh’s ground-game. Tailbacks Jay Campbell and Zach Barket combined to rush for over 800 yards and seven touchdowns while averaging over four yards per carry. Many of those runs were behind Rackley.

    A three-time first team All-Patriot League selection, Rackley earned third team All-America honors from the AP in 2009 and entered his senior season with six preseason All-America nods. Rackley is Lehigh’s first two-time AP All-American since Bergen was recognized in 2003 and 2004.

    “I have coached in the Ivy or the Patriot League since 1994 and during that time Will is arguably the best offensive lineman that I’ve seen in those leagues,” Coen explained. “He has a tremendous work ethic and represents himself, his family and our program very well. It’s a tremendous honor for Will. I know he’s happy for his individual success but even happier that he was able to achieve his goal of leading our program to a Patriot League Championship.”

    The Riverdale, Georgia native is also Lehigh’s first first-team All-America offensive lineman since Brian McDonald in 2000.

    Lehigh finished the 2010 season with a 10-3 record and advanced to the second round of the NCAA FCS Playoffs.

    Related Links
    AP FCS All-America release and teams

    #3019

    dcubbage7303
    Participant

    Good for Will! He is a great kid, and is a very hard working athlete. He’s given 100% to the program since the day he stepped on campus and is reaping the benefits of that.

    I believe he has just started training for some pro-days or combines, so best of luck to him in the future!

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