Three Buffaloes Land On All-America Teams
By: Brad Fralick
Updated: December 13, 2007
CANYON, Texas - For the second time in as many days, members of the West Texas A&M football team have been recognized for their outstanding accomplishments on the gridiron as three Buffaloes were selected to the 2007 Daktronics Football All-America team on Thursday. Senior tight end Kolo Kapanui and junior defensive end Brandon Swain captured first team honors, while junior linebacker Jared Brock earned second team accolades.
In all, 52 players were selected (ties at second team receiver and safety) with 36 of them seniors, 13 juniors and three sophomores. The team was voted upon by Division II’s Sports Information Directors.
Kapanui, who was the leading vote getter among tight ends on the ballot, capped off his two-year career in Canyon this fall by emerging into a dominant offensive force for the Buffs. The native of Hawaii caught 39 passes in 2007 to rack up 481 receiving yards and seven touchdowns. Additionally, Kapanui was a vital point of the Buffs’ swinging gate extra point conversion attempts as he scored on five of seven two-point conversion rushing tries.
Swain was a pleasant surprise during his first season in Canyon, leading the conference in sacks (14), tackles for loss (24.5), quarterback hurries (12), forced fumbles (5) and fumbles recovered (3). The Tulsa, Okla., native was selected as the Lone Star Conference Defensive Lineman of the Year and a regional finalist for the Gene Upshaw award, which is given annually to Division II’s top lineman. He posted multiple sacks in three games on the year and posted a career-high 10 tackles in the Buffs’ season opening win over No. 9 South Dakota. Swain scored his first career touchdown in WT’s playoff contest at Northwest Missouri State as he intercepted a batted ball and returned the pick 18 yards for a Buff score.
For Brock, this award marks the second straight All-American honor he has garnered; he received the honor from numerous organizations last year, including a first team nod from Daktronics. The Abernathy, Texas, native collected his second straight 100+ tackle season by leading the Buffs with 100 stops, a figure that includes 47 solo tackles. Brock also racked up 2.5 sacks, two interceptions, four forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries, eight pass break-ups and 10 quarterback hurries during the 2007 campaign.
The trio was a critical part of WT’s run to a third consecituve Lone Star Conference Championship and NCAA-II playoff appearance. The future continues to look bright for the Buffs as two of their three honorees on the 2007 Daktronics All-America team and much of the core of this season’s team return for another run at the National title in 2008.
Article Courtesy: www.gobuffsgo.com
In all, 52 players were selected (ties at second team receiver and safety) with 36 of them seniors, 13 juniors and three sophomores. The team was voted upon by Division II’s Sports Information Directors.
Kapanui, who was the leading vote getter among tight ends on the ballot, capped off his two-year career in Canyon this fall by emerging into a dominant offensive force for the Buffs. The native of Hawaii caught 39 passes in 2007 to rack up 481 receiving yards and seven touchdowns. Additionally, Kapanui was a vital point of the Buffs’ swinging gate extra point conversion attempts as he scored on five of seven two-point conversion rushing tries.
Swain was a pleasant surprise during his first season in Canyon, leading the conference in sacks (14), tackles for loss (24.5), quarterback hurries (12), forced fumbles (5) and fumbles recovered (3). The Tulsa, Okla., native was selected as the Lone Star Conference Defensive Lineman of the Year and a regional finalist for the Gene Upshaw award, which is given annually to Division II’s top lineman. He posted multiple sacks in three games on the year and posted a career-high 10 tackles in the Buffs’ season opening win over No. 9 South Dakota. Swain scored his first career touchdown in WT’s playoff contest at Northwest Missouri State as he intercepted a batted ball and returned the pick 18 yards for a Buff score.
For Brock, this award marks the second straight All-American honor he has garnered; he received the honor from numerous organizations last year, including a first team nod from Daktronics. The Abernathy, Texas, native collected his second straight 100+ tackle season by leading the Buffs with 100 stops, a figure that includes 47 solo tackles. Brock also racked up 2.5 sacks, two interceptions, four forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries, eight pass break-ups and 10 quarterback hurries during the 2007 campaign.
The trio was a critical part of WT’s run to a third consecituve Lone Star Conference Championship and NCAA-II playoff appearance. The future continues to look bright for the Buffs as two of their three honorees on the 2007 Daktronics All-America team and much of the core of this season’s team return for another run at the National title in 2008.
Article Courtesy: www.gobuffsgo.com
