January 23, 2013

Tech's Vanlier named Freshman All-America as return specialist

Tennessee Tech's Ladarius Vanlier has been named as a Freshman All-American by College Sports Journal. One of three OVC players to make the 63-player squad, Vanlier was chosen as a return specialist.

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. -- Speedster Ladarius Vanlier had a sudden impact on the Tennessee Tech football team in his freshman season, providing a spark on special teams with his electrifying kickoff and punt returns. After earning a spot on the OVC All-Newcomer team at the end of the season, Vanlier has added another honor to his resume by being named to the College Sports Journal Freshman All-America team.

Vanlier is one of three freshmen from the Ohio Valley Conference selected to the 63-man team, a total representing the 63 scholarships allowed to teams competing in the Football Championship Subdivision.

Vanlier, a 5-foot-7, 165-pound runningback/return specialist from Nashville, was chosen as a return specialist. During his rookie season, Vanlier ranked second in the OVC in kick return yardage and fourth in kick return average. He was sixth in punt return average, leading the Golden Eagles in both categories. He returned 32 kickoffs for 668 yards to average 20.9 per try. His returns included a 94-yard return for a touchdown in Tech's game at Murray State. He returned 12 pints for 96 yards, averaging 8.0 yards per tote.

The two OVC players who joined Vanlier on the Freshman All-America team were tight end Joe Bowens of Tennessee State and cornerback Jermaine Hough of Jacksonville State.

The College Sports Journal Football Championship Subdivision Freshman All-America team

OFFENSE
Quarterback John Robertson, Villanova
Quarterback Sawyer Kollmorgen, Northern Iowa
Quarterback Josh Woodrum, Liberty
Quarterback Vernon Adams, Eastern Washington
Running Back Luke Hagy, Cornell
Running Back Jake Hutson, Valparaiso
Running Back Ryan Heaston, Missouri State
Fullback Emmanuel Holder, Towson
All-Purpose Back Johna’ Hebert, Prairie View A&M
All-Purpose Back Darius Ramsey, Western Carolina
Wide Receiver Sean Price, Appalachian State
Wide Receiver Jameer Jackson, North Dakota
Wide Receiver Larry Jones III, Charleston Southern
Wide Receiver D.J. Ward, Stephen F. Austin
Wide Receiver Malachi Jones, Appalachian State
Tight End Joe Bowens, Tennessee State
Tight End Sam Rohr, Northern Iowa
Offensive Tackle Ben Curtis, Delaware
Offensive Tackle Derek Chancellor, South Dakota
Offensive Tackle Adam Pasnik, Albany
Offensive Tackle Ethan Wirth, Southern Illinois
Offensive Guard Josh Colville, North Dakota State
Offensive Guard Donald Jackson, Sam Houston State
Offensive Guard Sedale Young, Richmond
Offensive Guard Shaq Counts, Appalachian State
Center Eric Thoni, Furman
Center Zach Wilk, Cornell

DEFENSE
Defensive End James Cowser, Southern Utah
Defensive End Damon Gresham-Chisholm, Howard
Defensive End Davante Harris, Appalachian State
Defensive End Michael Kozlakowski, Maine
Defensive End Jonathan Woodard, Central Arkansas
Defensive End Mark Thomas, The Citadel
Defensive End Connor Underwood, Indiana State
Defensive Tackle Daevonte Barnett, Wagner
Defensive Tackle Javon Hargrave, South Carolina State
Defensive Tackle Alex Mosley, James Madison
Defensive Tackle Brian Schaetz, North Dakota State
Linebacker Zak Browning, Southern Utah
Linebacker Alex Donnelly, Illinois State
Linebacker T.J. Lally, South Dakota State
Linebacker J.J. Raffelson, Western Illinois
Linebacker Luke Rhodes, William & Mary
Linebacker Elandon Roberts, Morgan State
Linebacker Jeff Williams, Delaware
Cornerback James Bradberry, Samford
Cornerback Marcelis Branch, Wagner
Cornerback Anthony Gaffney, Princeton
Cornerback Jermaine Hough, Jacksonville State
Cornerback Aaron Matthews, Hampton
Cornerback Ryan Smith, North Carolina Central
Safety Terrick Colston, Delaware State
Safety Taison Manu, Idaho State
Safety Mark Sewall, Indiana State
Safety Jordan Tonani, Eastern Washington

SPECIAL TEAMS
Kick Returner Shaquille Hill, Eastern Washington
Kick Returner Khalif Raymond, Holy Cross
Punt Returner Jamel Smith, Lafayette
Return Specialist Ladarius Vanlier, Tennessee Tech
Kicker Chris Lider, Montana
Punter Ben LeCompte, North Dakota State
Punter Stephen Shaw, Montana
Long Snapper Jake Olson, Montana State