WACO, TEX. — NC Wesleyan junior defensive back Eddie Graham was named to the 2019 AFCA Division III Coaches' All-American Second Team announced today by the American Football Coaches Association.
The AFCA has selected an All-America team since 1945 and currently selects teams in all five of its divisions. What makes these teams so special is that they are the only ones chosen exclusively by the men who know the players the best — the coaches themselves.
Graham, a first team all-conference DB as well, helped lead the Battling Bishop defense this season ranking third on the team with 52 tackles along with 36 solo and 4.5 tackles for loss. He ranked 3rd in the USA South with 4 interceptions including one returned for a touchdown while he also ranked 2nd in the conference in pass breakups with 11.
Selection Process: The AFCA's Division III All-America Selection Committee is made up of head coaches representing each conference from each of the AFCA's eight districts, one of whom serves as a district chairman, along with another head coach who serves as the chairman of the selection committee. The coaches in each district are responsible for ranking the top players in their respective districts prior to a conference call between the district chairmen and the committee chairman on which the team is chosen.
The Award: Members of the AFCA Coaches' All-America First Team will receive a plaque commemorating their selection to the team, while members of the Second Team will receive a certificate.
2019 AFCA Division III Coaches' All-America Team - Second Team
Defense
Pos. Name Ht. Wt. Cl. School Coach Hometown (High School)
DL *Joey Longoria 6-1 285 Sr. Mary Hardin-Baylor (Tex.) Pete Fredenburg Pearland, Tex.
DL Kyle Johnston 6-4 215 Sr. Massachusetts Maritime Jeremy Cameron Raynham, Mass.
DL Liam Vincifora 5-11 240 Jr. Millsaps (Miss.) Aaron Pelch Covington, La.
DL Manny Longoria 5-10 230 Sr. Texas Lutheran Carl Gustafson Geronimo, Tex.
LB Logan Rickard 6-0 220 Sr. Coe (Iowa) Tyler Staker Lisbon, Iowa
LB Mark Niles 5-10 215 Sr. Ohio Northern Dean Paul Miramar, Fla.
LB Dillon Keefe 6-2 215 Jr. Chapman (Calif.) Bob Owens Orange, Calif.
DB Raeqwon Greer 5-10 185 Jr. Alfred (N.Y.) Bob Rankl Buffalo, N.Y.
DB Eddie Graham 5-10 170 Jr. North Carolina Wesleyan Jeff Filkovski Hudson, Fla. (Hudson)
DB Blaze Barista 6-3 195 Sr. Dubuque (Iowa) Stan Zweifel Wheaton, Ill.
DB Obasi Dees 5-10 160 Sr. California Lutheran Ben McEnroe Antioch, Calif.
