TORRENCE WRIGHT NAMED HONORABLE MENTION
DON HANSEN'S FOOTBALL GAZETTE ALL-AMERICA SELECTION

        PITTSBURG, Kansas – Arkansas Tech Wonder Boy junior offensive lineman Torrence Wright was named an Honorable Mention NCAA Division II All-American by Don Hansen’s Football Gazette on Thursday.

This marks the 21st year that Don Hansen’s Football Gazette, a recognized authority on small college football, has selected an NCAA D-II All-America team. The national publication selected All-Region teams with the first-team and second-team All-Region selections from each of the four geographic regions (Super Region One – former Northeast; Super Region Two – former Southeast; Super Region Three – former Northwest; Super Region Four – former Southwest) comprising the national ballot, which was voted upon by a select national panel.

This year’s All-America teams consist of 158 players and players from 69 of the 150 football-playing schools in Division II earned Football Gazette All-America honors. NCAA D-II National Champion Minnesota-Duluth and NCAA D-II National runner-up Northwest Missouri State led the way by placing eight players apiece on the All-America squad.

Wright earned his Honorable Mention All-American accolade after being a First-Team All-Super Two Region selection. In addition to Wright, senior offensive tackle Jeremy Ashcraft (Dickinson, Texas) earned Second-Team All-Super Two Region honors and senior punter Michael Podobnik (Frankfort, Ill.) was named a Third-Team All-Super Two Region selection. Last season, Podobnik was named a Third-Team Don Hansen’s Football Gazette All-America selection.

The Gulf South Conference had seven players named to one of the three Don Hansen’s Football Gazette All-America teams and had nine players named Honorable Mention All-America selections.

Wright, a 6-3, 280-pound center from Sulphur Springs, Texas, earns Honorable Mention All-America honors after starting and playing in all 10 games for the Wonder Boys at center this past season. On the season, Wright had an average grade of 85 per game and recorded 53 knockdown blocks and had 10 pancake blocks. In addition, he helped anchor a Tech offensive line that allowed just eight sacks in 10 games, which was tied for fourth in all of NCAA Division II Football. Wright was also a candidate from the Super Two Region for the Gene Upshaw Award, which is given annually to the top lineman in all of NCAA Division II Football.

Already this season, Wright has also been named a First-Team All-GSC selection, a Second-Team Daktronics All-Super Two Region selection and a First-Team Don Hansen’s Football Gazette All-Super Two Region selection.

         2008 Don Hansen's Football Gazette All-America Team

 -- Tech Athletics --