MICHAEL PODOBNIK NAMED PRESEASON FIRST-TEAM D2FOOTBALL.COM ALL-AMERICAN SELECTION

        RUSSELLVILLE, Arkansas – With the kickoff of the 2008 football season a little more than 48 hours away, Arkansas Tech senior punter Michael Podobnik continued to rake in preseason honors on Tuesday as he was named a First-Team D2Football.com All-American selection.

It is the fourth time this preseason that Podobnik has been named an All-American selection as he also has been previously honored by Lindy’s, Sporting News and Consensus Draft Services website.

Podobnik, who was a unanimous First-Team All-American last season after leading the Gulf South Conference and NCAA Division II in punting with a 45.2 yard average per punt, is one of eight GSC players named to one of the two D2Football.com All-America teams.

Joining Podobnik as a First-Team D2Football.com All-American from the GSC is Valdosta State junior receiver Cedric Jones, Valdosta State senior defensive back Sherard Reynolds and Henderson State defensive back Devon Hughes. In addition to the four first-team selections, four GSC players were named Second-Team selections led by Harding senior quarterback David Knighton, Henderson State senior offensive lineman Louis West, Delta State senior offensive lineman Mark Ellis and West Georgia senior kicker Jared Guberman.

As a junior last season, Podobnik, a native of Frankfort, Ill., was named a First-Team All-GSC selection at punter after averaging 45.2 yards per punt, which set both a new single-season Tech and GSC mark. In addition, he punted 43 times for 1,945 yards and had seven touchbacks and downed eight punts inside the 20-yard line. Podobnik had 13 punts over 50 yards, including a season-best 75 yard punt in Tech’s opener at Northeastern State. On the season, he was named a three-time GSC Special Teams Player of the Week and was named the D2Football.com National Special Teams Player of the Week following his 52.5 yard average on his four punts in Tech’s game against Harding on Nov. 3, 2007. The 52.5 yard average against the Bisons was a new single-game Tech record, bettering the old mark of 51.0.

Tech, who is the 10th all-time winningest NCAA Division II football program with 506 wins entering the 2008 season, will open its 94th season of intercollegiate competition on Thursday, Aug. 28 when they welcome Northeastern State for a 7 p.m. kickoff at Thone Stadium in Buerkle Field.

          Complete Preseason D2Football.com All-American Team

 -- Tech Athletics --