WACO, Texas – West Chester University sophomore linebacker
Ronell Williams (Chester, Pa./Chester) was named to the 2012 AFCA Division II All-America team by the American Football Coaches’ Association it was announced on Monday.
Williams becomes the 11th AFCA All-American from West Chester University and the first since 2008 when Mike Washington was selected at wide receiver. Williams is just the third defensive player from WCU to be named an All-American, joining Chuck Weber (1952) and Lee Woodall (1992), and the first sophomore to earn All-America status in school history.
“First of all, I would like to thank God for the opportunity to play college football,” Williams said. “This makes all the hard work worth the while. I would also like to thank my family; my mother, father and my sister, Ronnisha, for keeping me focused on school. Last, but certainly not least, I would like to thank my coaches.”
Williams led the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) in tackles this fall with 119. He ranked 11th in Division II in tackles, and his three interceptions ranked fourth in the country among linebackers. Williams registered seven tackles for a loss, forced a fumble, broke up one pass, was credited with a QB hurry and posted 1.5 sacks on the year as well. The Golden Rams’ middle linebacker was named first team All-PSAC East as well as first team All Super Region 1.
“Ronell is a tremendous young man,” West Chester head coach Bill Zwaan said. “He is the type of player that wants to improve every single day in practice. He is very deserving of this award.”
Williams is the only sophomore named to the All-America team and is one of only three PSAC student-athletes. He joins Bloomsburg RB Franklyn Quiteh and California (Pa.) S Rontez Miles.
The AFCA’s Division II All-America Selection Committee is made up of three head coaches from each of the AFCA’s nine districts, one of whom serves as a district chairman, along with another head coach who serves as the chairman of the selection committee. The coaches in each district are responsible for ranking the top players in their respective districts prior to a conference call between the district chairmen and the committee chairman on which the team is chosen.
The AFCA has selected an All-America team since 1945 and currently selects teams in all five of its divisions.
The five teams now chosen for each AFCA?division evolved from a single 11-player squad in 1945. From 1945 until 1967, only one team was chosen. From 1967 through 1971, two teams, University Division and College Division, were selected. In 1972, the College Division was split into College I and College II. In 1979, the University Division was split into two teams — FBS and FCS. In 1996, the College I and College II teams were renamed Division II?and Division III,?respectively. In 2006, the AFCA started selecting an NAIA-only team.
From 1965-81, a 22-player (11 offensive, 11 defensive) team was chosen. In 1982, a punter and placekicker were added to the team. In 1997, a return specialist was added, giving us the current 25-player team. The return specialist position was replaced by an all-purpose player in 2006.
2012 AFCA Division II Coaches’ All-America Team
Offense
Pos Name Ht. Wt. Cl. School Hometown (High School)
WR Chris Bowden 6-2 215 Sr. Wingate Forsyth, Ga. (Mary Persons)
WR John Brown 5-11 171 Jr. Pittsburg St. Homestead, Fla. (Homestead)
OL Mark Jackson 6-6 320 Sr. Glenville St. Columbus, Ohio (Brockhaven)
OL Garth Heikkinen* 6-4 315 Sr. Minnesota-Duluth Duluth, Minn. (Central)
C Kevin Day 6-0 270 Sr. Carson-Newman Soddy-Daisy, Tenn. (Soddy-Daisy)
OL Manase Foketi 6-5 320 Sr. West Texas A&M Hesperia, Calif. (Sultana)
OL Ryan Schraeder* 6-7 300 Sr. Valdosta St. Wichita, Kan. (Maize)
QB Taylor Housewright 6-2 215 Sr. Ashland Ashland, Ohio (Ashland)
RB Franklyn Quiteh 5-10 203 Jr. Bloomsburg Tobyhanna, Pa. (Pocono Mountain West)
RB Michael Hill 5-11 205 Sr. Missouri Western St. St. Joesph, Mo. (Central)
RB Rayon Simmons. 5-10 210 Sr. Winona St. University City, Mo. (Christian Brothers)
Defense
Pos Name Ht. Wt. Cl. School Hometown (High School)
DL Brandon Williams** 6-3 325 Sr. Missouri Southern St. Kirkwood, Mo. (Rockwood Summit)
DL Brad Davis 6-1 245 Sr. Elizabeth City St. Charlotte, N.C. (Independence)
DL Armonty Bryant 6-4 250 Sr. East Central (Okla.) Wichita Falls, Texas (Wichita Falls)
DL Zach Moore 6-6 282 Jr. Concordia-St. Paul Chicago, Ill. (Simeon Academy)
LB Ronell Williams 6-1 230 So. West Chester Chester, Pa. (Chester)
LB Corey Jones 6-2 240 Sr. Lane Compton, Ca. (John C. Fremont)
LB Jeremy Aguilar 6-1 235 Sr. Texas A&M-Kingsville Los Angeles, Ca. (Roosevelt)
DB Don Unamba 6-1 192 Sr. Southern Arkansas Hurst, Texas (L.D. Bell)
DB Pierre Desir 6-2 206 Jr. Lindenwood (Mo.) St. Charles, Mo. (Francis Howell Central)
DB Rontez Miles* 6-1 210 Sr. California (Pa.) Braddock, Pa. (Woodland Hills)
DB Jack Moro 5-11 190 Jr. St. Cloud State Brookfield, Wis. (Central)
Specialists
Pos Name Ht. Wt. Cl. School Hometown (High School)
P Randy Weich 6-2 250 Sr. Wayne St. (Neb.) Lincoln, Neb. (Pierce)
PK Sam Brockshus 5-11 200 Jr. Minnesota St.-Mankato Spencer, Iowa. (Spencer)
AP Tyron Laughinghouse 6-2 175 Sr. St. Augustine’s Greenville, N.C. (Rose)
*-2011 AFCA All-American
**-2010 & 2011 AFCA All-American
West Chester University Past AFCA All-Americans
Mike Washington - WR (2008)
Kevin Ingram - WR (1999)
Lee Woodall - LB (1992)
Bill Hess - WR (1988)
Ralph Tamm - OL (1987)
Billy Blystone - RB (1976)
Tom Pierantozzi - QB (1972)
Joe Iacone - RB (1962)
Joe Iacone - RB (1961)
Dick Emerich - OL (1958)
Chuck Weber - NG (1952)
