Ronell Williams And Al-Hajj Shabazz Named Preseason All-Americans

WEST CHESTER, Pa. – West Chester University senior linebacker Ronell Williams (Chester, Pa./Chester) and senior defensive back Al-Hajj Shabazz (Philadelphia, Pa./Bartram) were named first-team All-America by D2Football.com it was announced Tuesday afternoon.
 
It is the third preseason All-America citation for Williams, who was previously recognized by The Sporting News and USA Football, while Shabazz receives his second preseason All-America nod having also been pointed out by USA Football. Williams was an American Football Coaches' Association (AFCA) postseason first-team All-America after his sophomore season in 2012 and earned honorable mention All-America plaudits from both Don Hansen Football Gazette and D2Football.com after last season.
 
Williams has led the Golden Rams in tackles in each of his first three seasons on campus. He is vying to become the first West Chester football player to lead his team in tackles all four seasons in college. Williams enters 2014 in eighth place on the school's all-time tackles chart with 308. He stands 99 stops shy of Lateef Ferguson's school record. Williams led the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference in tackles in 2012 with a career-high 119. Last fall, he registered 110 stops and ranked fourth in the PSAC.
 
Shabazz has garnered quite a bit of attention from the pro scouts following his performance during West Chester's postseason run in 2013. His 76-yard interception return for a touchdown in the fourth quarter of the Super Region 1 Championship Game helped seal the Golden Rams' 21-7 victory, propelling them into the national semifinals a year ago. West Chester's shutdown corner ranked second on the team in interceptions last fall with four and tied for the team lead in passes defensed with 12. He has 113 tackles in his college career to go along with five interceptions and 17 passes defensed.
 
The Golden Rams, ranked 10th in Division II by the AFCA and 11th by D2Football.com, open their 2014 slate next Saturday afternoon, Sept. 6, on the road at New Haven. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m.

2014 D2Football.com Preseason All-America Team
August 26, 2014

QB     Kevin Rodgers     6-3, 215, Sr.     Henderson State
RB     Terrell Watson     6-2, 230, Sr.     Azusa Pacific
RB     Tyler Tonderum     5-10, 191, Sr.     Southwest Minnesota State
WR     Darius Davis     5-11, 212, Sr.     Henderson State
WR     Vernon Johnson     6-1, 190, Sr.     Texas A&M-Commerce
TE     Jamie Potts     6-3, 235, Jr.     Grand Valley State
OL     Cole Manhart     6-6, 300, Sr.     Nebraska-Kearney
OL     Matthew Reece     6-3, 310, Sr.     Tuskegee
OL     Joe Ray     6-0, 245, Jr.     Lenoir-Rhyne
OL     Jack Abercrombie    6-2, 290, Sr.    California
OL     Casey Beck    6-7, 295, Sr.    Upper Iowa
              
DL     Blake Baker     6-1, 215, Sr.     Lenoir-Rhyne
DL     Charles Tuaau     6-5, 310, Sr.     Texas A&M Commerce
DL     Matt Longacre     6-3, 240, Sr.     Northwest Missouri State
DL     Darius Allen     6-3, 239, Sr.     CSU-Pueblo
LB     Leron Furr    6-3, 235, Sr.    Fort Valley
LB     DJ Gnader    6-2, 225, Sr.    Northwest Missouri State
LB     Ronell Williams     6-1, 245, Sr.     West Chester
DB     Tyler Thornton     5-8, 182, Sr.     Azusa Pacific
DB     C.J. Roberts    6-0, 180, Sr.    CSU-Pueblo
DB     Isaiah Davis    5-10, 176, Jr.    Central Washington
DB     Al-Hajj Shabazz    6-2, 200, Sr.    West Chester
                    
K     Brent Wahle    6-2, 175, Jr.    Ohio Dominican
P     Andrew Cerett    6-5, 260, Jr.    California
AP     Marquez Clark     5-11, 190, Sr.     Central Oklahoma
                    
Second Team
                    
QB     Chris Bonner    6-7, 225, Sr.    CSU-Pueblo
RB     Anthony Taylor     5-11, 209, Sr.     Ashland
RB     Daiquone Ford     5-7, 190, Jr.     Findlay
WR     Marquez Clark     5-11, 190, Sr.     Central Oklahoma
WR     Trevor Harman     6-2, 210, Sr.     Shippensburg
TE     Lucas Hefty    6-4, 235, Sr.    Upper Iowa
OL     Cory Tucker    6-4, 280, Jr.    Slippery Rock
OL     Cody Clay    6-6, 330, Sr.    Azusa Pacific
OL     Jim Walsh    6-5, 310, Jr.    Grand Valley State
OL     Jarrett Stastny    6-4, 300, So.    Emporia State
OL     Josh Meeker    6-1, 286, Sr.    Minnesota State
                    
DL     Julian Howsare     6-3, 255, Sr.     Clarion
DL     Kevin Brewton    6-3, 250, Sr.    Findlay
DL     Bryan Thomson    6-1, 290, Sr.    East Stroudsburg
DL     Brandon Yost    6-2, 280, Jr.    Northwest Missouri State
LB     Grant Singer     6-1, 215, Sr.     Mary
LB     Justin Shirk    6-1, 240, Sr.    Bloomsburg
LB     Isaiah Fleming     5-11, 220, Jr.     Cheyney
DB     Mike Jordan    6-0, 190, Jr.    Missouri Western
DB     Harold Jones-Quartey    5-11, 200, Sr.    Findlay
DB     Colin Kimball    5-11, 160, Sr.    Mercyhurst
DB     Joe Beckham    5-11, 180, Jr.    Miles
                    
K     Justin Linn    6-1, 195, So.    Washburn
P     Scott Groner    6-4, 200, Sr.    Missouri Western
AP     C.J. Davis    5-9, 182, So.    Shepherd