In the FCS Huddle: NFL All-FCS Team

Philadelphia, PA (SportsNetwork.com) – It sure sounds nice to have Joe Flacco as your team’s backup quarterback.

The Sports Network’s 2014 All-FCS NFL Team basically does, and for the third straight season no less.

Tony Romo of the Dallas Cowboys is the selection once again for the starting quarterback of our fictional team that spotlights the best of the FCS players in the NFL. This season, there were over 200 on rosters, including active players, practice players and those on injured reserved.

Romo isn’t the only three-peat among the selections. New York Giants running back Rashad Jennings, New Orleans Saints wide receiver Marques Colston, Oakland Raiders offensive tackle Austin Howard, guard Dan Connolly of the AFC Champion New England Patriots, Chicago Bears defensive end Jared Allen and Cleveland Browns defensive tackle Desmond Bryant also are back for a third time.

Romo was the outstanding player in the FCS when he won the 2002 Walter Payton Award out of Eastern Illinois and Allen captured top defensive honors as the 2003 Buck Buchanan Award winner from Idaho State. In the pros, Flacco can say he’s a Super Bowl MVP, but the former University of Delaware star continues to be a smidge behind Romo in the regular season, which this team is based upon.

The secondary, this year led by the safeties, has continually been the deepest area talent-wise, and there’s an extra pick with Detroit Lions safety James Ihedigbo, who played in the FCS at Massachusetts, sneaking onto the team as a nickleback.

If you’re looking for an FCS alum to coach this team, Cowboys mentor Jason Garrett, from Princeton University, gets the nod this season over a pair of past Super Bowls winners, Mike Tomlin (Pittsburgh Steelers, William & Mary) and Sean Payton (New Orleans Saints, Eastern Illinois).

The Sports Network 2014 All-FCS NFL Team

Regular-Season Statistics Only

OFFENSE

Quarterback – (C) Tony Romo, Dallas Cowboys (Eastern Illinois): 304-for-435 (69.9 percent), 3,705 yards, 34 touchdowns, 9 interceptions; 113.2 passer rating

Running Back – Isaiah Crowell, Cleveland Browns (Alabama State): 148 carries, 607 yards, 8 touchdowns

Running Back – (C) Rashad Jennings, New York Giants (Liberty): 167 carries, 639 yards, 4 touchdowns; 30 receptions, 226 yards

Fullback – Kyle Juszczyk, Baltimore Ravens (Harvard): 19 receptions, 182 yards, 1 touchdown

Wide Receiver – (C) Marques Colston, New Orleans Saints (Hofstra): 59 receptions, 902 yards, 5 touchdowns

Wide Receiver – Chris Hogan, Buffalo Bills (Monmouth): 41 receptions, 426 yards, 4 touchdowns

Tight End – (A) Julius Thomas, Denver Broncos (Portland State): 43 receptions, 489 yards, 12 touchdowns

Tackle – Terron Armstead, New Orleans Saints (Arkansas-Pine Bluff)

Tackle – (C) Austin Howard, Oakland Raiders (Northern Iowa)

Center – Daniel Kilgore, San Francisco 49ers (Appalachian State)

Guard – (C) Dan Connolly, New England Patriots (Southeast Missouri State)

Guard – Willie Colon, New York Jets (Hofstra)

DEFENSE

Defensive End – (C) Jared Allen, Chicago Bears (Idaho State): 55 tackles (37 solo), 5.5 sacks, 4 passes defended, 2 forced fumbles, 2 fumble recoveries

Defensive End – (B) Kroy Biermann, Atlanta Falcons (Montana): 77 tackles (43 solo), 3 passes defended, 1 forced fumble

Defensive Tackle – Chris Baker, Washington Redskins (Hampton): 40 tackles (25 solo), 1 sack

Defensive Tackle – (C) Desmond Bryant, Cleveland Browns (Harvard): 49 tackles (25 solo), 1 pass defended, 1 fumble recovery

Linebacker – (B) Justin Durant, Dallas Cowboys (Hampton): 49 tackles (31 solo), 4 passes defended, 1 interception, 2 forced fumbles, 1 fumble recovery in six games

Linebacker – Ramon Humber, New Orleans Saints (North Dakota State): 50 tackles (38 solo), 1 pass defended

Linebacker – (A) Paul Worrilow, Atlanta Falcons (Delaware): 143 tackles (84 solo), 3 passes defended, 2 forced fumbles

Cornerback – Corey Graham, Buffalo Bills (New Hampshire): 84 tackles (65 solo), 15 passes defended, 2 interceptions, 1 fumble recovery

Cornerback – (B) Buster Skrine, Cleveland Browns (Chattanooga): 67 tackles (55 solo), 18 passes defended, 4 interceptions

Safety – (B) Mike Adams, Indianapolis Colts (Delaware): 87 tackles (67 solo), 11 passes defended, 5 interceptions, 2 forced fumbles

Safety – (A) Antoine Bethea, San Francisco 49ers (Howard): 86 tackles (72 solo), 1 sack, 10 passes defended, 4 interceptions, 1 INT touchdown return, 1 fumble recovery

Nickleback – (A) James Ihedigbo, Detroit Lions (Massachusetts): 71 tackles (59 solo), 8 passes defended, 4 interceptions, 3 forced fumbles, 1 fumble recovery

SPECIAL TEAMS

Place-kicker – (A) Dan Carpenter, Buffalo Bills (Montana): 34-of-38 field goals (89.5 percent), 58 long, 31-of-32 extra points, 133 points

Punter – (A) Sam Martin, Detroit Lions (Appalachian State): 68 punts, 46.1- yard average, 71 long, 29 inside 20

Return – Andre Roberts, Washington Redskins (The Citadel): 30 kickoff returns, 23.7-yard average; 28 punt returns, 7.4-yard average

Coverage – (A) Justin Bethel, Arizona Cardinals (Presbyterian)

Long Snapper – Mike Leach, Arizona Cardinals (William & Mary)

(A) – 2013 selection

(B) – 2012 selection

(C) – 2012 and ’13 selections

Categorized in: NCAA Football