Tuesday, February 5, 2008

SAMPLES, GREGORY NAMED TO FOOTBALL GAZETTE ALL-REGION TEAM

WESTMONT, Ill. --- Tusculum College’s Adrian Samples and John Gregory has been named to the 2007 Don Hansen’s Football Gazette NCAA Division II All-Southeast Region Third Team announced College officials Tuesday.

For Samples, this marks the second All-Region honor for him as he was named to the Daktronics All-Southeast Region Second Team in December.

Samples, a 6-2, 255-pound senior defensive end, earned All-South Atlantic Conference First Team accolades for a third straight season. The Rome, Ga. native finished third on the team with 57 tackles, including a TC-best 15 for loss (-48 yds.). Samples also led the team with six sacks, while breaking up five passes, recovered three fumbles, forced another and blocked two kicks on special teams. He is only the second Tusculum defensive lineman to earn All-Region honors (Lebron Johnson, 3^rd team in 2004). During his stellar collegiate career, Samples made 130 tackles, including 43 for loss, which are the third most by a Pioneer. His 17 career sacks are fourth in school history. Samples was selected to play in the East Coast Bowl this past November.

Gregory, a 6-2, 220-pound punter, earns All-Region honors for a second consecutive year. The two-time All-SAC selection finished second in the conference averaging 40.9 yards per punt. He averaged that total, last season, earning him First Team recognition and a spot on the All-Region team. In just 22 games, he has already established a new school record for career punting yardage (5,073) and his 40.9 average is second in TC history. The Ooltewah, Tenn. sophomore was named SAC Special Teams Player of the Week on four occasions in 2007 and seven times in his career. Gregory also earned a spot on the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District IV Second Team in 2007.

After a 0-3 start, Tusculum won six of its last eight games to finish with a 6-5 overall record. The Pioneers finished tied for third in the SAC with a 4-2 league worksheet. Tusculum has recorded a winning season in seven of the last eight years.

- TC -