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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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 TeamAugust 26, 2014QB    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
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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 ChesterDB    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            Â
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
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Second Team            Â
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
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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
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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
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