Vanlier nets All-America nod from Beyond Sports Network
Tennessee Tech return specialist Ladarius Vanlier has been named All-America by Beyond Sports Network as a punt returner. The junior led the OVC in punt returns.
Click here to view the complete BSN All-America teams
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. -- Tennessee Tech junior Ladarius Vanlier has
grabbed All-America honors, being named to the Football
Championship Subdivision (FCS) third-team by Beyond Sports
Network.
A multiple threat for the Golden Eagles throughout his three
seasons on the roster, Vanlier was chosen for his punt return
skills and results in 2014. He is one of six players from the Ohio
Valley Conference included on the first-, second-, or third-team
BSN All-America squads. Five additional OVC players were included
among the fourth-team selections, giving the league 11
honorees.
Vanlier, a product of Maplewood High School in Nashville,
finished the year tops on the team in scoring touchdowns with
eight, including five rushing, one kickoff return and two punt
returns to the end zone. He was second on the team in rushing with
494 yards on 89 carries, an average of 5.6 per carry. He was second
by one yard to leading rusher Darian Stone's 495 yards. As a
receiver, Vanlier had 21 catches for 130 yards to rank third on the
team.
As a return specialist, he averaged 22.3 yards on kickoff returns,
bring back 25 kicks for 557 yards. He had 17 punt returns for 245
yards, averaging 14.4 per try. He ranked first in the OVC in punt
returns and seventh in kick returns.
He was fourth in the OVC in all-purpose yardage, leading Tech with
118.8 yards per game by piling up 1,426 yards in 12 games.
Offensive lineman Max Holcombe of Jacksonville State and kick
returner Pokey Harris of Murray State were named the BSN first-team
All-America squad. BSN second-team picks were Eastern Illinios wide
receiver Adam Drake, cornerback De’Ante Saunders of Tennessee
State and UT Martin linebacker Tony Bell.
The fourth-team included runningback Dy’Shawn Mobley of
Eastern Kentucky, tight end Jeff LePak, safety Jourdan Wickliffe
and lineman Colin Seibert of of Eastern Illinois, and linebacker
Nick Thrasher of Tennessee State.
The BSN FCS All-America team was chosen by college sports information directors, coaches, media members and BSN staff. Each college was eligible to cast two ballots.
