Newberry’s Benedict Named to AP Little All-America First Team

NEWBERRY, S.C. - Newberry College offensive lineman Heath Benedict earned his fifth postseason honor of the season on Thursday as he was named to the Associated Press' First-Team Little All-America Team. Benedict is the lone representative from the South Atlantic Conference on the first team. Catawba College's Ron Ellington, was named to the third team.

Benedict, a red-shirt junior from Greer, S.C., anchored an offensive line that produced 185.5 rushing yards per-game and averaged a SAC-best 392.3 yards of total offense per-game. Benedict graded out at 90 percent for the season from his right tackle position and had over 100 knockdown blocks on the season.

Benedict was named to the All-SAC First Team this season and also was the recipient of the Jacobs Blocking Trophy which is given annually to the SAC's top blocker. He was also named to the First-Team All-Southeast Region and Second-Team All-American teams by Daktronics, Inc,.

Ellington was named the South Atlantic Conference Defensive Player of the Year, leading the league in sacks with 8.5 this season and posting a team-leading 74 tackles.

Below is the First-Team AP Little All-American Team:

Offense
Quarterback: Cullen Finnerty, Grand Valley State University.
Running Back: Danny Woodhead, Chadron State University; Germaine Race, Pittsburg State University.
Wide Receivers: Eric Fowler, Grand Valley State University; Weston Dressler, University of North Dakota.
Tight End: Michael Allen, Whitworth College.
Offensive Lineman: Ben Hochstein, University of Nebraska-Omaha; Robert Duncan, North Carolina Central University; Alan Barbre, Missouri Southern State University; Robbie Klinetrobe, Chadron State University; Heath Benedict, Newberry College.
Kicker: David Chudzinski, Wayne State University.
All-Purpose: Evan Prall, East Stroudsburg University.

Defense
Lineman: Alton Pettway, Albany State University; Mike McFadden, Grand Valley State University; Trey Lewis, Washburn University; Alex Hall, St. Augustine's College.
Linebackers: Ben Stroup, Edinboro University; Jared Brock, West Texas A&M University; Kevin Jones, St. Augustine's College.
Defensive Backs: Jordan Davis, University of South Dakota; Mario Harris, Wesley College; Dan Peters, Shepherd University; Craig Haywood, King's (Pa.) College.
Punter: Chris Lilly, East Central University.