Dec. 29, 2009

Southern Utah's Tysson Poots has been named to College Sporting News' 2009 FCS Fabulous Fifty All-America Team. In addition to the Fabulous Fifth, CSN's staff also selects honorable mention selections and the Great West Conference had three athletes named Honorable Mention--SUU's Trevor Ward and Colin Pretlow and Cal Poly's Jordan Yocum.

Poots, a junior from Henderson, Nev. , finished the season ranked second in the nation in receptions per game (9.4) and receiving yards per game (120.1) as well as 26th in the FCS in scoring with 10.0 points per game. After missing the first two games of the season with an injury, Poots came back to lead the Great West Conference in receptions, receiving yards per game and in scoring, with 85 catches for 1,081 yards and 15 touchdowns.

A senior from Ogden, Utah, Ward led the nation in punting this year with a 48.0 yards per punt average, the best average in SUU history. He finished the season with 35 punts for 1,680 yards. He posted 12 punts of more than 50 yards and pinned opponents inside the 20 with 14 of them while 15 of his attempts were fair caught. As a result, SUU also led the nation in net punting yards at 45.1 yards per kick.

Cornerback Pretlow was fifth in the Great West Conference with 83 tackles (58 solo)for a 7.5 average per game. The junior from Las Vegas, Nev., ranked second in the GWC in passes defended with seven pass breakups and four interceptions.

Rounding out the GWC representation on CSN's All-American Team was Yocum, a junior from Anaheim, Calif. Yocum posted 115 carries for 459 yards, giving him a 51.0 yards per carry average. The fullback ranked fifth in the conference in rushing and 10th in total offense.

Unlike other All-America teams, the CSN squad is designed to be like a real team, capable of taking the field and competing in a game. It includes everything from quarterbacks who can run or pass, often overlooked fullbacks, to a long snapper and other special teams performers.