Three Named Preseason D3Football.com All-Americans
Three Empire 8 football student-athletes have been named
2015 preseason All-Americans by D3Football.com.
Cortland return specialist Dylan Peebles was selected to the first team, while Buffalo State linebacker Marquis Artis and Morrisville State offensive lineman Fahraad Johnson earned second team recognition.
Peebles led Div. III nationally in kickoff return average at 34.9 yards per return in 2014.
He set a school single-season record with three kickoff returns for touchdowns and is Cortland's career leader in that category with four touchdowns in two seasons. Five of his kick returns went for more than 50 yards, including three touchdown returns that were more than 80-yards. Peebles was also Cortland's leading rusher with 619 yards and eight touchdowns on 157 carries from his tailback position. He led the Red Dragons in scoring with 11 total touchdowns for 66 points.
Artis was the 2014 Empire 8 Defensive Player of the Year after finishing fifth in the league in tackles with 99, including nine tackles for a loss and three sacks. He came away with two interceptions, broke up seven passes, forced four fumbles and had six games of 10 or more tackles last season. Artis helped pace a Bengals' defense that led the league with 31 takeaways including a conference-best 18 interceptions.
Johnson had an outstanding 2014 season campaign that saw him start all 11 games for the Mustangs. He was part of the offensive line that sat at the top of the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) in scoring, total offense, rushing offense and first downs. His efforts earned the Mustangs national attention, ranking 16th in all of Division III in total offense, as they claimed a share of the NJAC title and earned the program's first post-season bid where they captured the ECAC North Central Bowl Championship.