MICHAEL PODOBNIK NAMED PRESEASON SPORTING NEWS PREVIEW MAGAZINE NCAA DIVISION II ALL-AMERICAN SELECTION     

RUSSELLVILLE, Arkansas – With the kickoff of the 2008 football season a little less than two months away, Arkansas Tech senior punter Michael Podobnik has been named a Preseason NCAA Division II All-American by the Sporting News College Football 2008 Preview magazine.

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 seven GSC players named to Sporting News’ Preseason Division II All-American. The All-American accolades from the Sporting News are the third of the preseason for Podobnik, who has also been named a Preseason Division II All-American punter by Lindy’s Football Annual magazine and also by CDS (Consensus Draft Services) website.

In addition to announcing its Preseason All-American team, Sporting News also released its Preseason Division II Top 25 poll, the top six games to watch this coming season and a preview of each Division II conference.

Joining Podobnik as a Sporting News All-American from the GSC is Harding senior quarterback David Knighton, Delta State senior offensive lineman Mark Ellis, Valdosta State junior receiver Cedric Jones, West Georgia senior kicker Jared Guberman, North Alabama junior linebacker Michael Johnson and Valdosta State senior defensive back Sherard Reynolds.  

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.

Four GSC teams are ranked in the magazine’s Preseason Division II Top 25 Poll, including two teams ranked in the Top 10. Valdosta State, the defending NCAA D-II National champions, is ranked third in the preseason poll, while North Alabama, who meets Tech in Russellville on Oct. 4, is ranked seventh. Delta State, who faces Tech in Cleveland, Miss., on Nov. 1, is ranked 14th and Harding, who travels to Russellville to face the Wonder Boys on Nov. 8, is ranked 22nd in the preseason poll.

Tech, who is the 11th all-time winningest NCAA Division II football program with 506 wins entering the 2008 season, will open its 94th season of intercollegiate competition on Aug. 28 when they welcome Northeastern State for a 7 p.m. kickoff at Thone Stadium in Buerkle Field.

Sporting News Preseason Football Preview Magazine D-II All-American Team

         Offense
         QB - David Knighton, Sr., Harding

         RB - Bernard Scott, Sr., Abilene Christian

         RB - Joique Bell, Jr., Wayne State [MI]

         RB - Jarom Freeman, Jr., Southern Connecticut

         WR - Cedric Jones, Jr., Valdosta State

         WR - Johnny Spevak, Jr., Central Washington

         OL - Reid Kirby, Sr., Northwest Missouri State

         OL - Sam Collins, Sr., Abilene Christian

         OL - Billy Eisenhardt, Sr., Grand Valley State

         OL - Mark Ellis, Sr., Delta State

         OL - Jared Veldheer, Jr., Hillsdale [MI]

         RS - Dawon Harvey, Jr, Ashland [OH]

         K - Jared Guberman, Sr., West Georgia

         Defense
         DL - Brandon Swain, Sr., West Texas A&M

         DL - Jake Visser, Sr., Ferris State [MI]

         DL - Kirby Griffin, Sr., California [PA]
     
         DL - Dan Skuta, Sr., Grand Valley State
        
         LB - Jared Brock, Sr., West Texas A&M
        
         LB - Michael Johnson, Jr., North Alabama

         LB - Tom Korte, Sr., Hillsdale [MI]
        
         LB - Jeff Souder, Sr., Nebraska-Omaha
        
         DB - Sherard Reynolds, Sr., Valdosta State
        
         DB - Terrance McGhee, Jr., Albany State
        
         DB - Brandon Waymire, Sr., Mesa State
        
         DB - Randy Kush, Sr., Nebraska-Omaha
         
         P - Michael Podobnik, Sr., Arkansas Tech      

 -- Tech Athletics --