Wingate, N.C.-----The Wingate University Sports Information staff has compiled All-Decade teams for each of the 17 sports at the University. Over the course of the next three weeks, a new team will be released periodically. Today, we recognize the standouts for the football team from the 2000 through the 2009 seasons. On Tuesday afternoon, the men’s basketball All-Decade team will be released.

Offense

Quarterback
JD Moore (Mount Holly, N.C.) - Finished career in top-five of every major passing record...Second all-time in Wingate history with 55 touchdown passes...Recorded the best passer efficiency rating during career (132.4)...Second all-time in career completion percentage (55.7)...Finished third in completions (426), attempts (746) and yards (5240)...Single-season record 29 touchdown passes in 2007...Threw four touchdowns in a game three times...Threw three touchdowns in a game five times...

Honorable Mention: Anthony Metzelaars

Running Back
Nelson Woods (Shelby, N.C.) - Two-time All-South Atlantic Conference...2007 Offensive Freshman of the Year in the SAC...Rushed for 2,790 yards in three seasons...Needs 156 yards in final season to become Wingate’s all-time leading rusher...Carried the ball a school-record 574 times in three seasons...Currently second all-time in rushing touchdowns with 27, needing four more to establish new school record...13 career 100-yard rushing games...1,238 rushing yards in 2008 was second best single-season total...Rushed for 205 yards and three touchdowns against Mars Hill in 2008...

Honorable Mention: Antonio Hailstock

Wide Receivers
Rodney Williams (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) - All-Conference selection in 2004...Offensive Freshman of the Year...Finished career with school-record 27 touchdown receptions...Second all-time in Wingate history in receptions (198) and yards (2903)...Became only the second Bulldog in Wingate history to have a 1,000 yard season...School-record 74 receptions and 11 touchdowns in 2004...Caught school-record 12 passes against Mars Hill in 2004...Career-high three touchdown receptions against West Virginia Wesleyan...80-yard touchdown reception against Presbyterian in 2004...

Dan Brooks (Monroe, N.C.) - First team All-Conference selection in 2006 and second team All-Conference selection in 2005...Listed in top-five of all three major receiving records...Third all-time in Wingate history with 23 touchdown receptions...Fourth all-time with 116 career receptions and 1,778 career receiving yards...Ranks third in single season touchdown receptions with 10 in 2005...Career-high 61 receptions in 2006 which ranks third all-time...School-record 84 yard touchdown reception in 2006...46-yard average per catch in 2006 against Tusculum and 40-yard average per catch in 2008 against Newberry...

Shawn Barrett (Andover, N.J.) - Two-time All-Conference selection...Finished in the top five of all major receiving records while only playing for three seasons...Caught 111 passes for 1,286 yards, which are both fifth-best all time...14 career touchdowns, including a team-high eight during senior season...Caught a career-high three touchdown passes against Tusculum in 2008...

Honorable Mention: Gary Tatum

Tight End
Chris Conklin (Snow Camp, N.C.) - Two-time first team All-South Atlantic Conference selection...Two-time All-Region...Finished fifth in school history with 18 career touchdown receptions...Caught 73 passes for 1,139 yards in Bulldog career... In 2007, he led all SAC running backs, wide receivers and tight ends with 10 touchdown receptions...Named to the Don Hansen’s Football Gazette NCAA Division II All-America second team...Played for the East team in the 2008 Valero Cactus Bowl...

Honorable Mention: Ryan Webber

Offensive Line

Tackles
Brandon Manshack (Charlotte, N.C.) - Three-time All-Conference performer during career, becoming only second Bulldog to achieve honor...First team All-SAC in 2006...Second team All-SAC in 2005 and 2004...Daktronics All-Southeast Region football team selection in 2006...Bulldogs led the SAC in passing during senior season...

Ben Benshoof (Huntersville, N.C.) - First-team All-Conference in 2009...Three-year starter...Captain...Three straight seasons a Bulldog running back has rushed for at least 950 yards...Selected to play in East Coast Bowl Football Game...Did not allow a sack, while protecting blind side during senior season...

Guards
Cam LeGrand (Concord, N.C.) - Two-time All-Conference selection...Three-year starter...Part of offensive line that produced consecutive 1,000 yard seasons by a running back...In final season, offense was ranked third in the league in offense...Three-time Academic All-District III selection (2006, 2007 and 2008)...

Craig Whitley (Asheboro, N.C.) - All-Conference during senior season...Bulldogs pass offense was number one in the South Atlantic Conference during 2005...

Center
Greg Keziah (Charlotte, N.C.) - 43 consecutive starts for the Bulldogs offensive line...At the time of graduation, class had compiled the most wins in Wingate football history with 28...Starting center for SAC Offensive Freshman of the Year Nelson Woods, who compiled 1,174 yards in 2007...Three-time Academic All-District III selection...

Honorable Mention Offensive Linemen: Shelton Nelson, Josh Threatt


Offensive Player of the Decade: Woods


Wingate head coach Joe Reich on Woods:

“Nelson Woods is one of those backs who gets better with each carry. His durability has been unbelievable. He has great vision and never gets knocked back. In his sophomore year, he went a few games in a row with no negative yards. He is one of the best yards after contact runners I have seen.”



Defense

Defensive Line
Kenwin Cummings (Maxton, N.C.) - Three-time first team All-South Atlantic Conference...Two-time All-Region...Broke school record for career sacks in senior season, finishing with 26.5...School-record 56.5 tackles for loss in Wingate career...Fifth all-time in Wingate history with 243 career tackles...Led SAC in sacks and tackles for loss during junior and senior seasons...18.0 tackles for loss is second most all-time in a single season...Holds three of the top five single season best sack totals for a season...Don Hansen’s Football Gazette All-American selection twice in career...At the time of graduation, class had compiled the most wins in Wingate football history with 28...Currently playing in the National Football League for the New York Jets...

John Bowman (Rockingham, N.C.) - First team All-Conference in 2003...Second all-time in career sacks (23) and tackles for loss (33)...17.0 tackles for loss 2003 ranks fifth all-time...School record 15 sacks in 2003 also led the SAC that season...Played in 38 games...Finished with three forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and three pass break-ups...School-record four sacks against Davidson in 2003...Don Hansen’s Football Gazette third team All-American...Currently playing for the 2009 Grey Cup champion Montreal Alouettes in the Canadian Football League...

Tony Tofanelli (Peachtree City, Ga.) - First team All-Conference as a long snapper in 2004...Recorded 33 tackles (23 solo), three tackles for loss, three forced fumbles and two sacks during senior season...In 2003, had 33 tackles, six sacks and 5.5 tackles for loss...Career-high three sacks against Davidson in 2003

Tee Overman (Graham, N.C.) - Started 33 games for the Bulldogs...Finished Bulldog career with 179 tackles...23.5 tackles for loss ranks sixth all-time in Wingate history...11 career sacks ranks fifth all-time and six career passes defended...Wingate won eight games twice during career...Career-high three sacks against Tusculum in 2005...

Honorable Mention: Jose Espaillat

Linebackers
Demarkes Dogan (Spartanburg, S.C.) - Second team All-Conference in 2003...School-record 357 tackles during Wingate career...131 tackles in 2000 are second highest single-season total in Wingate history...Registered 100 tackles or more in three full seasons...School-record 20 tackles against Liberty in 2000...Finished career with 17.5 tackles for loss, seven sacks, three forced fumbles, and two fumble recoveries...

Allen Smith (Lincolnton, N.C.) - Two-time All-South Atlantic Conference selection...Ranks fourth all-time in Wingate history with 254 total tackles...Fifth all-time in tackles for loss with 24.5...Finished career with eight sacks...Returned a fumble 65 yards for a touchdown against Presbyterian in 2004...Career-high three sacks against Tusculum in 2005...

Bobby Floyd (Fairmont, N.C.) - Third in the SAC in tackles per game with 8.5 in 2007...Second on Wingate with 93 tackles in 2007...Selected to play in 2008 Valero Cactus Bowl...Finished career with 214 tackles, 16 tackles for loss and four interceptions...Returned a fumble 35 yards for a touchdown against Carson-Newman in 2007...18 tackles against Davidson in 2007 is fourth most single game total all-time...Two-time Defensive Player of the Week in 2007...

Honorable mention: Tyler Johnson, Stuart Sheppard

Secondary
David Jones (Greenville, S.C.) - AFCA Division II Coaches’ All-America first team...D2 Football.com All-American...Two-time All-Conference...Holds the school record for career interceptions (15) and interceptions in a single season (six)...Recorded 12 pass deflections in 2006...Caught two passes in senior season, both resulting in touchdowns...Recorded three interceptions in game against Lenoir-Rhyne in 2005, one resulting in a touchdown...Selected to play in the 2007 Hula Bowl...Daktronics All-Southeast Region team...Currently playing in the National Football League for the Cincinnati Bengals...

Donald Brown (Morganton, N.C.) - Two-time All-Conference selection as a cornerback... All-Conference selection as return specialist...Four punt returns for touchdowns is most in Wingate football history...Fourth all-time with nine career interceptions...72-yard punt return for a touchdown against Davidson is third longest in school history...Led the SAC in punt return average during senior year at 10.1...Also recorded 12 pass break-ups and two interceptions during senior season...Returned an interception 32 yards for a touchdown against Lenoir-Rhyne in 2005...

Chad Clonch (Fairmont, N.C.) - Two-time All-South Atlantic Conference selection...95-yard interception return for a touchdown against Mars Hill in 2002 ranks as the second longest return in Wingate history...Ranks third all-time with 10 interceptions in career...Registered 191 tackles in final two seasons as a Bulldog...Four forced fumbles and 12.5 tackles for loss...

Tylan Merkerson (Oxford, Ga.) - Two-time All-South Atlantic Conference selection...Eight career interceptions ranks sixth all-time in Wingate history...43 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, forced fumble and fumble recovery during senior season...74 tackles and four interceptions during junior season...Finished career with 137 total tackles...Returned a fumble 21 yards for a touchdown in 2009 against North Greenville...Two interceptions against Tusculum in 2009...

Honorable Mention: Cody Moore, Dietrich Wright

Special Teams

Return Specialist
Donald Brown (Morganton, N.C.) - Two-time All-Conference selection as a cornerback... First team All-Conference selection as return specialist...Four punt returns for touchdowns is most in Wingate football history...Fourth all-time with nine career interceptions...72-yard punt return for a touchdown against Davidson is third longest in school history...Led the SAC in punt return average during senior year at 10.1...Also recorded 12 pass break-ups and two interceptions during senior season...Returned an interception 32 yards for a touchdown against Lenoir-Rhyne in 2005...

Honorable Mention: Erie Williams

Kicker/Punter
Chris Brewer (Weddington, N.C.) - 2003 Daktronics second team All-American as a punter...First team All-Conference place-kicker and first team All-Conference punter in 2003...Made 19-of-28 field goals and 67-of-74 extra points in final two seasons...Holds school record for 89-yard punt against Lenoir-Rhyne in 2003...NCAA school-record 55-yard field goal in 2004 against West Virginia Wesleyan...Made school-record 35 PAT in 2004...Fifth all-time with 22 career field goals...Named NCAA Division II special teams Player of the Week six times in 2003 by Don Hansen's Football Gazette...

Honorable Mention: Richard Straup

Long Snapper
Tony Tofanelli (Peachtree City, Ga.) - First team All-Conference as a long snapper in 2004...Recorded 33 tackles (23 solo), three tackles for loss, three forced fumbles and two sacks during senior season as a defensive lineman...In 2003, had 33 tackles, six sacks and 5.5 tackles for loss...Career-high three sacks against Davidson in 2003

Honorable Mention: Kyle Davis



Defensive Player of the Decade: Cummings


Wingate head coach Joe Reich on Cummings:

“Kenwin Cummings is by far the most powerful player we’ve ever had. On top of that, he would tie with John Bowman for the best ‘motor.’ Kenwin was all in, all the time. He never missed a workout for us in four years. He was our defensive MVP in his senior year. There is no other way to say it…he was just a beast!”