CLINTON, S.C. ? Presbyterian College football received more national acclaim entering the 2007 football season recently when it was announced that the Blue Hose had seven players named NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision All-Independent in Phil Steele's national college football preview magazine.
Steele's preview placed two Blue Hose on the All-Independent first team offense in senior wide receiver Justin Durant (Florence, S.C.) and redshirt sophomore running back S.J. Worrell (Madison, Ga.).
Senior captain and defensive lineman Sherman Burnett (Norwood, Ga.) was named to the first team All-Independent defense along with fellow captain and junior middle linebacker Antwan Thomas (Hawkinsville, Ga.).
The defensive duo was joined on the first team defense by junior defensive lineman Adam McKinney (Augusta, Ga.) and junior defensive back Antoine Carter (Lawrenceville, Ga.).
Junior Bryson Summers (West Columbia, S.C.) was named to the first team as a punter.
An All-South Atlantic Conference selection last season, Durant concluded last season with a team-best six touchdowns and 16.4 yards-per-catch. Worrell led the Blue Hose in rushing last year with 551 yards and three touchdowns.
A preseason NCAA Division II All-America selection last season and All-SAC performer at the end of the year, Thomas concluded his efforts last season for the Blue Hose with a team-high 79 total tackles, including 4.5 sacks and 7.0 tackles-for-loss.
Burnett and McKinney both finished in the top five in total tackles last season for PC with Burnett ending the year with a team second-best 61 total tackles and 8.0 tackles-for-loss. McKinney led the Blue Hose with five sacks in the 2006 season.
Carter tied for the team lead in overall interceptions last year for the Blue Hose with four.
Summers was one of the top punters in the South Atlantic Conference last season, averaging 38.5 yards-per-punt. Summers' long punt last season was 62 yards.
As a team Phil Steele's preview magazine ranks the Blue Hose third among FCS independents.
Presbyterian opens its 2007 football season at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 1 in Greenville, S.C. against Furman University. PC Football will have its first home tilt of 2007 at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 8 at Bailey Memorial Stadium against Pikeville College.
The 2007 season is PC's transition season into NCAA Division I FCS football. The Blue Hose will begin Big South play with the 2008 campaign.
