Cornerback Troy Sant was named a first team preseason All-American by D3football.com.
ROCHESTER, NY -- A trio of Empire 8 standouts were tabbed as 2012 Preseason All-Americans by
D3football.com, including St. John Fisher cornerback Troy Sant (pictured) who was slotted to the first team. Sant was joined by two second team selections including Alfred defensive tackle Mike Raplee and Salisbury guard Christian Emezie.
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Sant, a senior from Pittsford, NY, was one of the best interception men in the nation in 2011. He earned Second Team All-America laurels by the same website last fall when he started all 13 games including 10 at cornerback. An All-East Region First Team and Empire 8 All-Conference Second Team honoree, Sant led the conference with seven interceptions and tied for 30
th in the nation with .54 take-a-ways per game. He finished his junior campaign with 42 tackles and nine passes defended.
Raplee, a senior from Dundee, NY, is a two-time pre-season All-American having earned Second Team honors in 2011. The Empire 8 Conference First Team all-star recorded 68 tackles, including eight for loss and a team-leading 4.5 sacks. Raplee led a Saxon defense that held opposing offenses to less than 300 yards per game this season, including only 116 yards rushing per contest. He was also named D3football.com honorable mention All-American and a First Team East Region pick. Raplee has earned Empire 8 all-conference honors each of his three seasons at AU (honorable mention 2009; First Team 2010 and 2011).
Emezie, a senior from Baltimore, MD, was a constant on the offensive line, which pushed Salisbury to nearly 45 points per game, ranked third in the nation. The Sea Gull blockers allowed only 13 sacks in 13 games; the per-game average ranks 29th in Division III football. An Empire 8 All-Conference First Team and All-Region third team selection helped pave the way for Salisbury's offense, which set program records in points scored (584), rushing yards (4,596) and touchdowns (83). The Sea Gulls' 355.54 rushing yards per game ranked second in the NCAA.
The 2012 Empire 8 football season will kick off on Sept. 1, with seven of the conferences' eight teams making their season debut in nonconference action. Conference games will begin Sept. 22, and the regular season will conclude with the final week of Empire 8 action on Nov. 10.