ROCK HILL, S.C. --- Eight Tusculum College football players have been named to the 2007 All-South Atlantic Conference Team announced league officials Monday. Tusculum had five players earn All-SAC First Team honors, while three received Second Team recognition. Tusculum sophomore tight end Jarrell NeSmith was named the SAC Scholar Athlete for Football, marking the third straight year a Pioneer has earned this prestigious honor.

TC's first team selections are Adrian Samples, Justin Scott, Jeremy Thompson, Ryan Tallent and Robby Kelly. Matt Lawrie, John Gregory and Jarvis Littlejohn were tabbed to the Second Team.

Samples, a 6-2, 255-pound senior defensive end, earned All-SAC First Team honors 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. During his stellar collegiate career, he made 130 tackles, including 43 for loss, which are the third most by a Pioneer. His 17 career sacks are fourth in school history.

Scott, a 6-3, 235-pound linebacker, was second on the team with 78 tackles, including 14 behind the line of scrimmage. The Jamestown, S.C. product finished second in the league with four fumble recoveries.

Thompson, a 6-0, 200-pound junior defensive back, was fourth leading tackler for the Pioneers with 55 stops, including a team-best three interceptions. The Rome, Ga. also led the team with nine passes defended, which are seventh in the SAC.

Tallent, a 5-10, 200-pound wide receiver, made the most of his move from the running back position. The Maryville, Tenn. sophomore led the conference with 59 receptions and 696 receiving yards. His 69.6 receiving yards per game was second-best in the league. Tallent accounted for six TD catches and finished fifth in the SAC in all-purpose yardage per game (108.3 ypg). He also shined off the field, earning a spot on the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District IV Second Team.

Kelly earns All-SAC First Team honors for a third straight year at long snapper. One of the most reliable in the league, the 6-2, 230-pound Thomaston, Ga. senior has handled TC's snapping duties for the past four seasons for the Pioneers.

Lawrie, a 6-3, 300-pound offensive lineman, lived up to his Preseason All-SAC billing. The Norco, Calif. senior has played in 21 games in his two seasons with the Pioneers. He shined as Tusculum's center this year, starting in all 11 outings.

Gregory, a 6-2, 220-pound punter, earns All-Conference honors for a second straight year. He finished second in the SAC 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 and 2007 and on seven occasions in his career. Gregory also earned a spot on the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District IV Second Team.

Littlejohn, a 5-11, 240-pound sophomore linebacker, led the Pioneers in tackles in 2007, recording 85 stops, including a career-high 17 two weeks ago against Mars Hill. The Gaffney, S.C. native posted 11 tackles for loss, recovered two fumbles and forced a pair. For his 17-tackle effort, he was named SAC Defensive Player of the Week and D2football.com National Defensive Player of the Week.

Catawba and Carson-Newman led the way with 13 selections each, while Tusculum and Newberry each had eight honorees. Wingate and Mars Hill accounted for six selections apiece, while Lenoir-Rhyne had fo