Atlanta, GA— Defending SIAC Champion Albany State was ranked 10th in the D2Football.com preseason top 25 poll while Stillman College punter Ronnie Partridge was named to the D2Football.com preseason All-American team.
The Golden Rams finished with an 11-1 record in 2010 and advanced to the third round of the NCAA Division II playoffs. Albany State has been ranked in every major preseason Division II top 25 poll including ninth in the AFCA Coaches’ Poll, 13th by the Sporting News, and 14th by Lindy’s. The defending SBN Black College National Champions were also ranked first in the Heritage Sports Radio Network (HSRN) Preseason HBCU Division II Top 10.
Albany State will open the season on September 3rd in Macon, GA against Division I-FCS opponent Savannah State in the Music City Classic.
Partridge, a native of Ridge Spring, SC, was named to the first team after leading the nation in punting in 2010, averaging 45.51 yards per punt. In 11 games, the All-SIAC first team selection had 65 punts for 2,958 total yards, including a long of 85 yards, while recording 17 punts of 50 yards or more and 16 punts downed inside the 20. The 5-10, 183-pound senior has been named to several preseason All-American teams including the Sporting News and Boxtorow.com.
D2Football.com Top 25 Poll
August 22, 2011
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Rank
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Team
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2010 Record
|
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1
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Minnesota-Duluth
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15-0
|
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2
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Delta State
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11-4
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|
3
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Abilene Christian
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11-1
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4
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Grand Valley
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11-2
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5
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Northwest Missouri
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12-2
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6
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Texas A&M-Kingsville
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10-2
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7
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Shepherd
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12-2
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|
8
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Central Missouri
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11-3
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|
9
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Augustana
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11-2
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|
10
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Albany State
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11-1
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|
11
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California
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10-2
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|
12
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North Alabama
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9-4
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|
13
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St. Cloud
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10-3
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|
14
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Valdosta State
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8-3
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|
15
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Bloomsburg
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10-3
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|
16
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West Texas A&M
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8-4
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|
17
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Mercyhurst
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10-3
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|
18
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Hillsdale
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9-3
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|
19
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Wingate
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9-3
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|
20
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Kutztown
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10-2
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|
21
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Missouri Western
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8-4
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|
22
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Washburn
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8-4
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|
23
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Colorado Mines
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9-3
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|
24
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Wayne State (Mich.)
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9-2
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|
25
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Nebraska-Kearney
|
9-2
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2011 D2Football.com Pre-Season All-America Team
|
First Team
|
|
QB
|
Mitchell Gale
|
Abilene Christian
|
Jr.
|
|
RB
|
Franklyn Quiteh
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Bloomsburg
|
So.
|
|
RB
|
Tommy Addison
|
Shepherd
|
Sr.
|
|
WR
|
Jake Soy
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Northwest Missouri
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Sr.
|
|
WR
|
Brittan Golden
|
West Texas A&M
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Sr.
|
|
TE
|
Ryan Shelley
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Southeastern Oklahoma
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Jr.
|
|
OL
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Joe Long
|
Wayne State (Mi.)
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Sr.
|
|
OL
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Garth Heikkinen
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Minnesota Duluth
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Jr.
|
|
OL
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Chandler Rearden
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Lenoir-Rhyne
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Sr.
|
|
OL
|
Amini Silatolu
|
Midwestern State
|
Sr.
|
|
OL
|
Tyler Hendrickson
|
Concordia-St. Paul
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Sr.
|
|
DL
|
Armonty Bryant
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East Central
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Jr.
|
|
DL
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Aston Whiteside
|
Abilene Christian
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Sr.
|
|
DL
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Brandon Williams
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Missouri Southern
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Jr.
|
|
DL
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Jamie Meder
|
Ashland
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So.
|
|
LB
|
Nate Dreiling
|
Pittsburg State
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So.
|
|
LB
|
Shawn Loiseau
|
Merrimack
|
Sr.
|
|
LB
|
Chad Kilgore
|
Northwest Missouri
|
Sr.
|
|
DB
|
Janoris Jenkins
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North Alabama
|
Sr.
|
|
DB
|
Keon Robinson
|
Shepherd
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Jr.
|
|
DB
|
Jeremy Jones
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Wayne State (Mi.)
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Sr.
|
|
DB
|
Rontez Miles
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California
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Jr
|
|
AP
|
Trevor Kennedy
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Mercyhurst
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Sr.
|
|
K
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Dan Fisher
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Bloomsburg
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So.
|
|
P
|
Ronnie Partridge
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Stillman
|
Sr.
|
|
Second Team
|
|
QB
|
Bo Cordell
|
Tusculum
|
Jr.
|
|
RB
|
Jonas Randolph
|
Mars Hill
|
Sr.
|
|
RB
|
Joe Glendening
|
Hillsdale
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Jr.
|
|
WR
|
Gerald Worsham
|
West Alabama
|
Sr.
|
|
WR
|
Thomas Mayo
|
California
|
Sr.
|
|
TE
|
Sean McGrath
|
Henderson State
|
Sr.
|
|
OL
|
Mark Jackson
|
Glenville State
|
Jr.
|
|
OL
|
Jason Slowey
|
Western Oregon
|
Sr.
|
|
OL
|
Mike Arndt
|
Wingate
|
Sr.
|
|
OL
|
Kyle Thornton
|
North Alabama
|
Sr.
|
|
OL
|
Larry Wreidt
|
West Liberty
|
Sr.
|
|
DL
|
Richard Daniel
|
Wayne State (Neb.)
|
Sr.
|
|
DL
|
Danny Richard
|
Grand Valley
|
Sr.
|
|
DL
|
Arterio Arnold
|
Newberry
|
Jr.
|
|
DL
|
Johnny Tivao
|
Texas A&M-Kingsville
|
Sr.
|
|
LB
|
Nick Thomas
|
Wayne State (Mich.)
|
Sr.
|
|
LB
|
Bill O'Connor
|
C.W. Post
|
Sr.
|
|
LB
|
Brett Diamond
|
California
|
Sr.
|
|
DB
|
Marlon Douglas
|
Central Missouri
|
Sr.
|
|
DB
|
Zac Kallas
|
Augustana
|
Sr.
|
|
DB
|
Robert Fletcher
|
Wingate
|
Jr.
|
|
DB
|
Stan Langlow
|
Central Washington
|
So.
|
|
AP
|
Curtis Dewberry
|
Winona State
|
Sr.
|
|
K
|
Greg zuerlein
|
Missouri Western
|
Sr.
|
|
P
|
Derek Jambon
|
Arkansas-Monticello
|
Sr.
|