2009 JACKSONVILLE STATE FOOTBALL Danny Lee
Mark Word
Danny Lee was named a two-time All-American as the Gamecock halfback and kick returner. In 1992, Lee rushed the ball 89 times for 631 yards and led the team with seven touchdowns. As a punt and kick returner that season, he returned 29 punts for 400 yards and two touchdowns, breaking a long return of 90 yards. As a kick returner, Lee returned 17 kickoffs for 587 yards, carrying three back for scores, including one for 100 yards. In 1991, Lee was the second-leading rusher with 587 yards, averaging 8.15 yards a carry. Lee led the GSC in both kickoff returns and punt returns and was third in the country.
Mark Word earned All-American honors for the Gamecocks in 1998 after being named to the Southland Conference defensive first-team as a lineman. He was one of the top sacks leaders in the country after leading the conference with 15 sacks in 11 games. He also finished with 52 total tackles, four fumble recoveries, 27 quarterback pressures and 14 tackles for loss. He was drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs in the third round.
A BO U T J S U
COAC HE S
GAM ECO CK S
O U T LO O K
INT RO
1991 • 1992
Wendell Kelley 1992
Wendell Kelley was named an All-American in 1992. A native of Oxford, Ala., Kelley was the fifth leading tackler in ’91 with 96, including 49 solos and second in sacks with five, plus a pair of pass breakups, two recovered fumbles and four forced fumbles.
Ja’Karl Barnett 1992 • 1993
Ja’Karl Barnett was a two-time All-American in 1992 and 1993. In 1993, Barnett started in 10 games for the Gamecocks, recording three interceptions for a total of 39 yards and returned one for a touchdown. In ’92, Barnett led the team in tackles with 152, including six for a loss. Barnett also tabbed seven pass breakups and a pair of interceptions. Barnett finished his JSU career with six interceptions for 81 yards and one touchdown.
Curtis McDaniel Curtis McDaniel was named All-American in 1993 for the Gamecocks as a defensive tackle. During his junior campaign, McDaniel was fifth on the team with 112 tackles, third in sacks with three and second in quarterback pressures with 23. McDaniel earned first team All-Gulf South Conference honors. He recorded 10 or more tackles during six of 14 games, including 10 in the national championship contest against Pittsburg State.
R E V IE W
O P P O NE NT S
1993
Darron Edwards
HI S T O RY
REC ORDS
1995
O VC
JSU ALL-AMERICANS
Darron Edwards was named All-America in 1995 after leading the Gamecock defense with four interceptions. The Pell City, Ala., native set the JSU school record by recording all four interceptions against in-state rival Samford. Edwards returned one for an 84-yard touchdown, the longest interception return in the school’s Division I-AA history. He also had 10 tackles and five pass breakups in that 35-14 JSU win. He finished his senior season with 60 tackles and a team-high 11 pass breakups after starting all 11 games in the school’s first season at the NCAA Division I-AA level.
Eric Mims 1997
Eric Mims earned All-American honors in 1997 after leading the team with 145 total tackles, including 81 solo stops. The Wellborn, Ala., native set a school record with 33 total tackles against Nicholls State, just one week after recording 19 tackles versus West Georgia. He finished his career with more than 378 total tackles and five intercepions. He also had six fumble recoveries, eight forced fumbles 17 pass breakups and one blocked kick during his Gamecock career.
168
1998
Montressa Kirby 1998
Quarterback Montressa Kirby led Jacksonville State from 1995-98 and earned All-America honors in 1998 and was named the Southland Football League Offensive Player of the Year. He went 168-of-318 for 2,271 yards with 15 touchdowns also was the second leading rusher with 114 attempts for 310 yards and seven touchdowns. The Anniston, Ala. native set 14 school records including most attempts in one game (48) and in a season (418), most completions in one game (28) and in a season (218), most touchdown passes in a game (5), most passing yards in a game (417) and the longest touchdown pass (93). Kirby finished his career 492-of-966 for 6,587 yards, 45 touchdowns and 43 interceptions.
Eurosious Parker 1998
Eurosious Parker became the fourth Gamecock specialist to earn All-America honors. Parker, a native of Greenville, Ala., led the Gamecocks in all returns as a senior and was named to the Southland All-Conference team. He had 28 kickoff returns for 619 yards. He returned 34 punts for 477 yards, including a 79-yard touchdown. He also grabbed five interceptions and returned a fumble 13 yards for a touchdown. He finished his career with over 1,600 return yards.
Delvin Hughley 2000
Delvin Hughley was defensive back All-American in 2000 for JSU. In his career for the Gamecocks, Hughley posted 205 tackles, including 138 unassisted and 67 assists with six for losses of 23-yards. He recorded 41 pass deflections with seven forced fumbles and four recoveries. Hughley recorded seven interceptions for 56-yards and one touchdown. Hughley also served as a punt returner, logging 49 returns for 543-yards with a long of 40.
Jeremy Sullivan 2001
Jeremy Sullivan was named an All-American in 2001. Sullivan was named to the Southland Football League All-Conference team in 2001 and 2000. Sullivan started every game his final three seasons at JSU. In 2001, he helped anchor a offensive line that opened holes for the SLC leading rushing team that garnered 2,491-yards on the ground. During his junior season, the Gamecocks finished second in the league in rushing and 26th nationally.
Richie Rhodes
2001 • 2002 • 2003
Richie Rhodes is the Gamecocks only three-time All-American. Rhodes punted in 43 games in his JSU career with 218 punts for 9,208-yards, averaging 42.2-yards with a long of 74 in his freshman season that set a Division I-AA record. In his junior campaign, Rhodes punted in 11 games for the Gamecocks with 52 punts for 2,082-yards. In 2003, Rhodes led the OVC in punting with 67 punts for 2,761-yards. He was named All-Conference four times and Conference Player-of-the-Week seven times in his career.