JOHNSON NAMED PLAYER OF THE YEAR AS SEVEN PANTHERS MAKE
By: Charles Ward
Issue date: 11/14/07 Section: Sports
Atlanta, GA - Despite a disappointing 3-8 finish this season, seven Clark Atlanta University (CAU) Panthers have been selected to the 2007 All-SIAC Football Team.
Headlining the postseason honors for the Panthers is Senior Defensive End Curtis Johnson. In addition to being named First Team All-SIAC, Johnson was also voted SIAC Defensive Player of the Year. This is Johnson's second consecutive selection to the All-SIAC Team.
Johnson led the SIAC in two defensive categories this season. He was first in sacks with a total of 13.5, and he was the conference leader in tackles for loss with a total of 27. The Daktronics All-America Candidate also finished second in the conference in tackles with a total of 112. Johnson was named SIAC Defensive Player of the Week four times during the regular season and twice received SIAC Defensive Player of the Week Honorable Mention.
Fellow Daktronics All-America Candidate Brandon Larkin made his third consecutive appearance on the First Team All-SIAC Team. The senior punter from Richmond,
Virginia led the SIAC in punting and finished the season second in the nation (Division II) in punting with a 43.6 yards-per-punt average. Larkin's longest punt of the season
was 74-yards and he placed 30 of his punts inside the 20-yard line. The 74-yard effort was the longest in the SIAC this season.
Larkin was named SIAC Special Teams Player of the Week three times this year. He
received SIAC Special Teams Player of the Week Honorable Mention five times during
the course of the 2007 campaign.
Senior Offensive Lineman Jonathan Didier also earned his second consecutive selection
to the All-SIAC Team. While he received second team honors last year, this season the
Miami, Florida native was voted First Team All-Conference. Didier was named SIAC
Lineman of the Week once during the 2007 season.
Senior Return Specialist Mario DeGracia was one of the most reliable players for the Panthers in the 2007 season. DeGracia was flawless as a punt returner. He finished first in the conference with returns totaling 354 yards. On 32 attempts he never fumbled, and he averaged 11.1 yards-per-return. DeGracia was named SIAC Special Player of the Week once during the 2007 season. This was his first selection as First Team All-SIAC. Sophomore sensation Winston Thompson was the fifth Panther named to the 2007 First Team All-SIAC. Despite an injury late in the season, the speedy running back from Miami, Florida, finished second in the conference in rushing with 782 total yards. He averaged 78.2 yards-per-game and 4.1 yards-per-carry. Thompson was named SIAC Offensive Player of the Week once during the regular season.
Although he played in only five games in his final campaign, Senior Linebacker Michael Porter was voted to the Second Team All-SIAC. This was the second all-conference selection for Porter, who was named SIAC Defensive Player of the Week once during the
regular season. He was fifth on the team in total tackles with 44.
Junior Offensive Lineman Alphonso Johnson made his debut on the All-SIAC Team roster this season. The native of Montgomery, Alabama, was voted Second Team All-SIAC.
These players along with the other All-SIAC team members will be formally recognized at the SIAC Football Awards Luncheon at 12:30 p.m. Nov. 30 in Columbia, South Carolina.
Headlining the postseason honors for the Panthers is Senior Defensive End Curtis Johnson. In addition to being named First Team All-SIAC, Johnson was also voted SIAC Defensive Player of the Year. This is Johnson's second consecutive selection to the All-SIAC Team.
Johnson led the SIAC in two defensive categories this season. He was first in sacks with a total of 13.5, and he was the conference leader in tackles for loss with a total of 27. The Daktronics All-America Candidate also finished second in the conference in tackles with a total of 112. Johnson was named SIAC Defensive Player of the Week four times during the regular season and twice received SIAC Defensive Player of the Week Honorable Mention.
Fellow Daktronics All-America Candidate Brandon Larkin made his third consecutive appearance on the First Team All-SIAC Team. The senior punter from Richmond,
Virginia led the SIAC in punting and finished the season second in the nation (Division II) in punting with a 43.6 yards-per-punt average. Larkin's longest punt of the season
was 74-yards and he placed 30 of his punts inside the 20-yard line. The 74-yard effort was the longest in the SIAC this season.
Larkin was named SIAC Special Teams Player of the Week three times this year. He
received SIAC Special Teams Player of the Week Honorable Mention five times during
the course of the 2007 campaign.
Senior Offensive Lineman Jonathan Didier also earned his second consecutive selection
to the All-SIAC Team. While he received second team honors last year, this season the
Miami, Florida native was voted First Team All-Conference. Didier was named SIAC
Lineman of the Week once during the 2007 season.
Senior Return Specialist Mario DeGracia was one of the most reliable players for the Panthers in the 2007 season. DeGracia was flawless as a punt returner. He finished first in the conference with returns totaling 354 yards. On 32 attempts he never fumbled, and he averaged 11.1 yards-per-return. DeGracia was named SIAC Special Player of the Week once during the 2007 season. This was his first selection as First Team All-SIAC. Sophomore sensation Winston Thompson was the fifth Panther named to the 2007 First Team All-SIAC. Despite an injury late in the season, the speedy running back from Miami, Florida, finished second in the conference in rushing with 782 total yards. He averaged 78.2 yards-per-game and 4.1 yards-per-carry. Thompson was named SIAC Offensive Player of the Week once during the regular season.
Although he played in only five games in his final campaign, Senior Linebacker Michael Porter was voted to the Second Team All-SIAC. This was the second all-conference selection for Porter, who was named SIAC Defensive Player of the Week once during the
regular season. He was fifth on the team in total tackles with 44.
Junior Offensive Lineman Alphonso Johnson made his debut on the All-SIAC Team roster this season. The native of Montgomery, Alabama, was voted Second Team All-SIAC.
These players along with the other All-SIAC team members will be formally recognized at the SIAC Football Awards Luncheon at 12:30 p.m. Nov. 30 in Columbia, South Carolina.
