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Show M|^B^MH||^MHaHMHHMaMM| Honors for Football December 23, 2010 Wildcats get 3 All- America awards Standard-Examiner staff OGDEN — A trio of Weber State University football players have earned All-America honors from The Sports Network and by Phil Steele's College Football Magazine. Vai Tafuna, J.C. Oram and Joe Collins — all Big Sky Conference honorees - claimed the awards that were handed out this week in FCS football. Tafuna, a senior fullback, and Oram, a junior offensive guard, were each named second-team Ail-American by The Sports Network, while senior receiver Joe Collins was named to the third geam. Tafuna was named second- team hon- oree by Phil Steele's College Football Magazine, while Oram was named third team. Tafuna, a 6-foot-l, 195-pounder from Mesa, Ariz., was one of the Big Sky's most dominant running backs in the final half of the 2010 season. In the first six games of the season he had just 49 carries for 138 yards and one touchdown, but in the final five games he had 86 carries for 416 yards and scored nine touchdowns. Oram Tafuna Tafuna — who played two seasons for the 'Cats — ended the season with 135 carries for 551 yards and led the team in scoring with 10 touchdowns. Oram, a 6-4, 305-pounder from Slaterville, has been a rock for the Wildcats on the offensive line where he has started in 36 straight games. He made the move from right guard to left guard in 2010. Oram has been part of a WSU offensive line which has blocked for Cameron Higgins (WSU's career passing leader), Trevyn Smith (WSU's career rushing leader) and Tim Toone (WSU's career leader in receiving yards. Collins, a 6-3,195-pounder from Seaside, Calif., made the most of his final year at WSU, catching 61 passes for 1,046 yards and six touchdowns. He had a career-best nine receptions in WSU's four overtime win over Northern Colorado. Collins, a transfer from Monterey Peninsula JC in 2008, played just four games that season before an injury forced him off the field and he received a medical redshirt. He had 48 receptions for 455 yards and four touchdowns in 2009. All totaled, Collins leaves WSU with 109 receptions (17th most in WSU history) for 1,501 yards and 10 touch downs. In all, 16 Big Sky Conference players earned All- America honors, the most of an FCS league. Southern Utah wide receiver Tysson Poots completed an All-America sweep by being named first team to his fourtht squad. 216 |
