D3football.com "Team of the Year"
SELINSGROVE, (Pa.) — Already named Division III Defensive Back of the Year by Don Hansen's Football Gazette and a first-team All-American by two teams, Susquehanna University freshman cornerback Antonio Nash (Washington, D.C./Spring Brook, Md., H.S.) added two more All-American honors to his growing list of post-season awards. Nash made the Little All-American Second Team by the Associated Press — a team honoring the top football players in both Division II and III, as well as both divisions of NAIA — and was also a second-team pick on the "Team of the Year" by D3football.com.
Susquehanna junior offensive tackle Randy Zook (Belleville/Indian Valley H.S.) was also an honorable mention selection on the "Team of the Year" by D3football.com.
Nash is Susquehanna's first AP Little All-American since Jeremy Zeisloft in 1996. He was the Middle Atlantic Conference Commonwealth League Rookie of the Year, as well as a first-team league All-Star at defensive back, and a second-team All-Star as a return specialist. He was also Susquehanna's defensive and special teams player of the year. A transfer from Division II Cheyney University, the 5-9, 170-pounder tied the school record for season interceptions with 10 (Other Record Holders: Mike Fabian, 1971; Cory Mabry, 1988; Jeremy Zeisloft, 1996), leading the MAC while tying for third in NCAA Division III (1.0 per game). Nash also led the team in pass break-ups with seven, also blocking a kick and posting 50 tackles (33 solo) — two of them for losses of two yards. He also led the MAC and was tied for 17th in Division III punt return average at 13.2. That average was third-highest in a season at Susquehanna, and includes 224 yards in 17 returns with a touchdown.
"Making all these All-American teams are certainly great honors for Antonio. I think it all just shows how much he meant to us this season, and the type of player he is," said 10th-year head coach Steve Briggs.
An accounting major, he is the son of Joann and Sampson, Nash, Jr.
The 6-5, 260-pound Zook earned first-team MAC Commonwealth All-Star honors for the second time in as many seasons as a starter. He was one of the top linemen on a Crusader offense which ranked second in the MAC in rushing (163.5 yards per game), and fifth overall (345.7 yards per game). Zook gave up just one quarterback sack all season, and had 16 knockdown blocks. The line allowed just three sacks of freshman quarterback Mike Bowman in the last six games. The group was honored as the team's Gus Weber Crusader Players of the Week in a 27-7 win at Juniata on October 9 as it led an attack which rolled up 285 yards rushing, 28 first downs, and didn't allow a sack, while keeping the ball for 37:28 against a Juniata defense which was ranked 11th nationally against the rush at the time.
"Randy's one of our captains for next year and we certainly expect him to be a leader up front. He already has been or he probably wouldn't have earned an honor like this," said Briggs.
Zook is a public relations major and the son of Raymond and Joann Zook.
The two All-Americans helped Susquehanna repeat as Middle Atlantic Conference Commonwealth League champions while posting the program's third-straight winning season and 14th-straight non-losing season – going 7-3 overall and 4-1 in league play. The Crusaders posted their best record since 1992 and were ranked 40th in the final regular-season Division III rankings by Football Gazette.
D3football.com "Team of the Year"
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