Philadelphia, PA -- (Sports Network) - Northern Arizona and Eastern Washington placed four players each on the preseason Sports Network All-America team and the Big Sky Conference had 18 athletes selected when the squad was announced on Friday.

Northern Arizona landed cornerback K.J. Gerard and punter Robbie DeHaze on the first team, while safety Cyrus Igono and tight end Shaun Fitzpatrick were third-team selections.

Eastern Washington was represented by defensive end Greg Peach on the second- team, while fullback Alexis Alexander, wide receiver Aaron Boyce and defensive tackle Lance Witherspoon were named to the third team.

Montana was one of five teams with a trio of players picked, with safety Colt Anderson and offensive linemen Colin Dow and Brent Russum being tabbed.

The Colonial Athletic Association grabbed 12 spots and the Missouri Valley Football Conference (formerly the Gateway) added 10.

Richmond also earned four selections, with guard Matt McCracken and kick returner Justin Rogers making the second team, while defensive end Sherman Logan and tackle Tim Silver being named to the third team.

A total of 28 members of the 2007 postseason All-America squad was selected to the preseason team, including Armanti Edwards, the quarterback of three-rime defending national champion Appalachian State and his teammate, linebacker Pierre Banks.

Two Buchanan Award candidates from 2007, Montana State linebacker Bobby Daly and Nicholls State safety Lardarius Webb were first-team selections.

Six Payton Award finalists from 2007 were also represented, quarterback Dominic Randolph, receivers Ramses Barden (Cal Poly) and Terrell Hudgins (Elon) and running backs Herb Donaldson (Western Illinois), Mike McLeod (Yale) and Tyler Roehl (North Dakota State).

THE SPORTS NETWORK 2008 PRESEASON ALL-AMERICA OFFENSE

First-Team School Pos. Cl. Ht. Wt.

Armanti Edwards Appalachian State QB Jr. 6-0 185

Rashad Jennings Liberty RB Sr. 6-1 230

Corey Lewis Northern Iowa RB Sr. 6-0 197

Joe Casey Rhode Island FB Sr. 5-10 215

Ramses Barden Cal Poly WR Sr. 6-5 230

Terrell Hudgins Elon WR Jr. 6-3 235

Scott Sicko New Hampshire TE Jr. 6-3 225

Kheon Hendricks Delaware C Sr. 6-1 300

Stephen Field Cal Poly G Sr. 6-1 280

Colin Dow Montana G Sr. 6-5 300

Joel Bell Furman T Sr. 6-8 308

Cornelius Lewis Tennessee State T Sr. 6-5 310

Taylor Rowan Western Illinois K Sr. 6-0 190

J.T. Rogan San Diego KR Sr. 5-10 190

THE SPORTS NETWORK 2008 PRESEASON ALL-AMERICA DEFENSE

First-Team School Pos. Cl. Ht. Wt.

Jovan Belcher Maine DE Sr. 6-2 228

Pierre Walters Eastern Illinois DE Sr. 6-5 261

Mychal Savage Youngstown State DT Jr. 6-2 290

John Faletoese UC Davis DT Jr. 6-3 290

Bobby Daly Montana State LB Sr. 6-1 226

Zach East Prairie View LB Sr. 6-2 230

Cyrus Mulitalo Sacramento State LB Sr. 6-1 245

Jason Williams Western Illinois LB Sr. 6-3 235

K.J. Gerard Northern Arizona CB Sr. 6-1 180

Domonique Johnson Jackson State CB Sr. 6-3 218

Colt Anderson Montana SS Sr. 5-11 185

Lardarius Webb Nicholls State FS Sr. 5-11 180

Robbie DeHaze Northern Arizona P Sr. 6-3 184

Jeremy Gilchrist Hampton PR Sr. 5-10 174