Author Archives: Pat Coleman

Vote D-III for All-NFL Europe

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The NFL Europe league site is taking online votes for All-League. Let’s show our support for Division III by voting for Coe running back Fred Jackson and Bridgewater linebacker Jermaine Taylor.

Jackson is listed as “Frederick Jackson” on the first page of the ballot. Make sure you hit Continue to get to the defensive side of the ballot

Beyond those guys, I don’t care who you vote for. I’m voting for the guys listed as (FA) — the guys who came over to the league as NFL free agents. Guess I love the underdogs.

Vote! Vote at home, at work, at the cybercafe, wherever!

D-III’s next NFL generation

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Division III has lost several NFL alumni in recent years. R.J. Bowers’ brief career (two NFL touchdowns) has come and gone. Michael Coleman is in and out of training camps and practice squads. Ethan Brooks has gone from starting with the Ravens to the Cowboys bench to seemingly unemployed, while R-Kal Truluck and Tony Beckham are unrestricted free agents.

So who will replace these players, especially if nobody has been drafted in three years?

They don’t have to come from the draft, or even this year’s free agent class. There are players still in the pipeline who have yet to be on a regular season NFL roster.

Fred Jackson, Coe: Jackson got a tryout and signed a free agent contract with the Buffalo Bills earlier this year. Now 25, Jackson spent two seasons in the United Indoor Football League and was named its MVP this past season after rushing for 1,770 yards and scoring 53 touchdowns. Jackson follows Carey Bender, a fellow former Coe All-American running back who was also signed by the Bills and played in NFL Europe. Jackson plays for the Rhein Fire, and you can follow his stats on the NFL Europe site, though they are not yet updated after Saturday afternoon’s game.

Jermaine Taylor, Bridgewater (Va.): Taylor is with his second NFL team, having been in the Packers’ training camp his first year out of college. He’s now a Tampa Bay Buccaneer. Taylor leads the team in tackles as of the last time NFL Europe stats were updated. He could be the next London Fletcher, only bigger. Or he could be the next Brenden Givan, the D3football.com 2000 All-American from Stillman who racked up great tackles numbers in NFL Europe two years ago.

Bryant Shaw, Mississippi College: Never heard of him? He could be the next R-Kal Truluck, working his way up from Arena ball to the NFL. The Detroit Lions signed the Grand Rapids Rampage lineman a week and a half ago during his fifth season in the league. Shaw stands 6-3, 287 now at the age of 27. He was the American Southwest Conference defensive player of the year in 1999, his senior season and the first year of D3football.com.

Eventually we’ll start learning who is going where from the current rookie class. But even if they don’t stick in the league right away, don’t forget about them. They may pop up years later.

Recruiting Recap: Penn, Harvard kids on the way

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No, not that Penn and Harvard.

Harvard (Ill.) HS products Nick Iftner and Jay Sachs are headed to Augustanta and Lakeland respectively next season. A quick web search on these two turned up an interesting tidbit. The Harvard Hornets have a Cameron Amelianovich listed as a receiver. With that relatively unusual last name, I can’t help but wonder if he’s related to Illinois Wesleyan D3hoops.com All-American Keelan, who attended Neuqua Valley HS in Naperville, Ill..

Two players from Penn High in the South Bend, Ind., area are heading to Division III schools, according to the South Bend Tribune. At 5-10, 185-pounds, Evan Sobecki was limited by a knee injury to 156 yards rushing and two touchdowns. He is heading to Wabash. Beehler (5-7, 150) led the Kingsmen with 38 catches for 747 yards and eight scores. He is off to Adrian.

In other “Penn” news, Bill Crossey of Penn-Trafford HS told the hometown Star that he is looking forward to playing at Washington & Jefferson. Crossey selected W&J over Juniata, Marietta and Division I-AA Robert Morris.

UW-La Crosse has a recruiting class heavy on defensive tackles, says the La Crosse Tribune.

Wellsville (N.Y.) HS linebacker Frank Brown is heading to Rochester. Local rival St. John Fisher might be adding another horse to their running back stable. The Albany Times-Union reports the Cards landed Mohonasen HS running back Bradley Carlton, who put up 3,500 yards and ranks in the top twenty all-time in New York Section II history.

A pair from Plainfield HS in the Indianapolis area are going to Division III schools as well. Lineman (both sides) Mitch Brown is heading to Wabash and receiver/defensive back Patrick Faris has committed at Anderson, according to the Indianapolis Star, which thinks Anderson is in the NAIA.

According to the (Orangeburg, S.C.) Times & Democrat, Thomas Moultrie will set sail from Edisto HS (Cordova, S.C.) for Virginia where he’ll dock at Newport News. Joining his cousin Travis on the Shipbuilders, Thomas brings an impressive high school resume including 176 tackles from his linebacker spot.

Another South Carolinian will travel farther north when Chuckie Scarminach comes from Hilton Head Prep to Carnegie Mellon. Scarminach quarterbacked his team to the S.C. Independent Schools Athletic Association Class 2-A state championship last year.

Brookwood HS (Snellville, Ga.) offensive line teammates Jonathan Milner and Joey Robinson will stay together for college, attending LaGrange. The Panthers will play their first season of Division III football this fall.

If you want to contribute a name, you must provide the published confirmation. (Unless you are an SID or coach, of course, in which case your word is sufficient). You can add the news by posting a comment below or emailing gordon.mann@d3football.com.