Release courtesy of Al King, Assistant Athletic Director, Media Relations, Ashland University
WACO, TEXAS — Ashland University senior quarterback Taylor Housewright (Ashland, Ohio) has been named to the 2012 American Football Coaches’ Association Division II All-American Team. The team was announced today (Dec. 10).
The AFCA has selected an All-America team since 1945 and currently selects teams in all five of its divisions. These teams are selected exclusively by coaches around the country. The AFCA Division II team consists of just 22 players. There is no second or third team or honorable mention list.
Housewright is the 13th player in the program’s history to be selected as a first team All-American. While a number of organizations select All-America teams, the AFCA team is recognized by the NCAA. Housewright is the second consecutive AU quarterback to be recognized as an AFCA All-American. Billy Cundiff was an AFCA selection in 2008.
Housewright is the third Ashland player to earn AFCA honors since Lee Owens become AU’s head coach in 2004. In addition to Housewright and Cundiff, center Vince Cashdollar was recognized in 2007.
This is the latest in a string of impressive awards for Housewright this season. He is the 2012 GLIAC player of the year and a first team All-GLIAC pick. A week ago, he was named to the Daktronics all-region team and was recognized as the Super 4 Region offensive player of the year. He is now on the Daktronics All-America ballot.
In 2012, the senior completed 241-of-358 passes (67.3 percent) for 3,071 yards with 32 touchdown passes and four interceptions. Housewright led the Eagles to an 11-0 record in the regular season. The Eagles advanced to the NCAA playoffs for the fifth time in school history and the first time since 2008. AU ended the year 11-1, 10-0 in GLIAC play. This year’s team won the first GLIAC football championship in school history and is the second team in school history to win 10 or more games in a season.
The Eagles ended the regular season ranked fourth in the country. That equals the highest ranking in school history and this is the highest ranking the program has attained since becoming an NCAA Division II institution.
In his career, Housewright completed 579-of-887 passes (65.3) for 7,259 yards with 71 touchdown passes and 16 interceptions. He is second at Ashland in career pass attempts, completions, passing yards and touchdown passes.
Housewright is the lone GLIAC player on the AFCA team. This year’s team is comprised of 18 seniors, six juniors and one sophomore.
Below is the complete list of the 2012 AFCA Division II Coaches' All-America Team:
2012 AFCA Division II Coaches’ All-America
Team
Offense
| Pos. | Name | Ht. | Wt. | Cl. | School | Coach | Hometown (High School) |
| WR | Chris Bowden | 6-2 | 215 | Sr. | Wingate | Joe Reich | Forsyth, Ga. (Mary Persons) |
| WR | John Brown | 5-11 | 171 | Jr. | Pittsburg St. | Tim Beck | Homestead, Fla. (Homestead) |
| OL | Mark Jackson | 6-6 | 320 | Sr. | Glenville St. | David Hutchison | Columbus, Ohio (Brockhaven) |
| OL | Garth Heikkinen* | 6-4 | 315 | Sr. | Minnesota-Duluth | Bob Nielson | Duluth, Minn. (Central) |
| C | Kevin Day | 6-0 | 270 | Sr. | Carson-Newman | Ken Sparks | Soddy-Daisy, Tenn. (Soddy-Daisy) |
| OL | Manase Foketi | 6-5 | 320 | Sr. | West Texas A&M | Don Carthel | Hesperia, Calif. (Sultana) |
| OL | Ryan Schraeder* | 6-7 | 300 | Sr. | Valdosta St. | David Dean | Wichita, Kan. (Maize) |
| QB | Taylor Housewright | 6-2 | 215 | Sr. | Ashland | Lee Owens | Ashland, Ohio (Ashland) |
| RB | Franklyn Quiteh | 5-10 | 203 | Jr. | Bloomsburg | Danny Hale | Tobyhanna, Pa. (Pocono Mountain West) |
| RB | Michael Hill | 5-11 | 205 | Sr. | Missouri Western St. | Jerry Partridge | St. Joesph, Mo. (Central) |
| RB | Rayon Simmons, Jr. | 5-10 | 210 | Sr. | Winona St. | Tom Sawyer | University City, Mo. (Christian Brothers College) |
Defense
| Pos. | Name | Ht. | Wt. | Cl. | School | Coach | Hometown (High School) |
| DL | Brandon Williams** | 6-3 | 325 | Sr. | Missouri Southern St. | Daryl Daye | Kirkwood, Mo. (Rockwood Summit) |
| DL | Brad Davis | 6-1 | 245 | Sr. | Elizabeth City St. | Waverly Tillar | Charlotte, N.C. (Independence) |
| DL | Armonty Bryant | 6-4 | 250 | Sr. | East Central (Okla.) | Tim McCarty | Wichita Falls, Texas (Wichita Falls) |
| DL | Zach Moore | 6-6 | 282 | Jr. | Concordia-St. Paul | Ryan Williams | Chicago, Ill. (Simeon Academy) |
| LB | Ronell Williams | 6-1 | 230 | So. | West Chester | Bill Zwaan | Chester, Pa. (Chester) |
| LB | Corey Jones | 6-2 | 240 | Sr. | Lane | Derrick Burroughs | Compton, Ca. (John C. Fremont) |
| LB | Jeremy Aguilar | 6-1 | 235 | Sr. | Texas A&M-Kingsville | Bo Atterberry | Los Angeles, Ca. (Roosevelt) |
| DB | Don Unamba | 6-1 | 192 | Sr. | Southern Arkansas | Bill Keopple | Hurst, Texas (L.D. Bell) |
| DB | Pierre Desir | 6-2 | 206 | Jr. | Lindenwood (Mo.) | Patrick Ross | St. Charles, Mo. (Francis Howell Central) |
| DB | Rontez Miles* | 6-1 | 210 | Sr. | California (Pa.) | Mike Kellar | Braddock, Pa. (Woodland Hills) |
| DB | Jack Moro | 5-11 | 190 | Jr. | St. Cloud State | Scott Underwood | Brookfield, Wis. (Central) |
Specialists
| Pos. | Name | Ht. | Wt. | Cl. | School | Coach | Hometown (High School) |
| P | Randy Weich | 6-2 | 250 | Sr. | Wayne St. (Neb.) | Dan McLaughlin | Lincoln, Neb. (Pierce) |
| PK | Sam Brockshus | 5-11 | 200 | Jr. | Minnesota St.-Mankato | Aaron Keen | Spencer, Iowa. (Spencer) |
| AP | Tyron Laughinghouse | 6-2 | 175 | Sr. | St. Augustine’s | Michael Costa | Greenville, N.C. (Rose) |
*-2011 AFCA All-American
**-2010 & 2011 AFCA All-American