HAMMOND – Southeastern Louisiana University's Tommy Connors picked up an additional post-season honor on Wednesday when he was named to the Associated Press Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) All-America Team.

Connors, a junior defensive back from Marrero, was a third-team selection and one of seven players from the Southland Conference named to the prestigious squad. The former Archbishop Shaw product became the second Lion to earn AP All-America honors since the program was reinstated joining Felton Huggins, who was a third-team pick in 2004.

“It's truly a great honor to be included on one of the most elite groups in the country,” Connors said. “This couldn't have done it without my teammates and coaches. They made it easy for me to work hard each day. I never had as much fun on the defensive side of the ball than I had this season.”

Connors, who was a first-team All-Southland Conference selection, led Southeastern and was second in the SLC with 108 tackles while leading the league with four interceptions. The three-time All-SLC pick posted four games with 10 or more tackles, highlighted by a 15-tackle performance at nationally-ranked Central Arkansas.

“This is such a tremendous honor for Tommy and we're very proud of him and the hard work that he has put in since coming to Hammond,” Southeastern head coach Mike Lucas said. “It's a great honor for the program as well to get national recognition. With Tommy being a New Orleans product, it also proves that we're going to build a solid program and win championships with Louisiana players.”

Connors added five tackles for loss with two sacks, two fumble recoveries, a forced fumble while blocking two kicks on special teams. His biggest play on special teams came on the final play of regulation in a come-from-behind 30-27 overtime victory at Sam Houston State as he blocked a potential game-winning field goal.

Connors added an interception to set up a touchdown and scored on a fumble recovery in the Lions' 34-28 season-opening win at Alcorn State and blocked a field goal and sealed a 26-21 win over Northwestern State with an interception.

Central Arkansas' Larry Hart and Nicholls State's Lardarius Webb were each named on the first-team defense with McNeese State's Toddrick Pendland named as a second-team running back.

Offensive lineman Eman Naghavi of McNeese State and wide receiver Cameron Luke of Texas State joined Connors on the third-team along with Stephen F. Austin's Tim Knicky, who was selected on the defensive line.

2008 ASSOCIATED PRESS FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP SUBDIVISION
ALL-AMERICA TEAM

FIRST TEAM
Offense
Quarterback - Armanti Edwards, Jr., 6-0, 185 pounds, Appalachian State.

Running backs - Herb Donaldson, Sr., 5-11, 225, Western Illinois; Rashad Jennings, Sr., 6-1, 230, Liberty.

Wide Receivers - John Matthews, Sr., 6-0, 203, San Diego; Ramses Barden, Sr., 6-6, 225, Cal Poly.

Linemen - Colin Dow, Sr., 6-5, 300, Montana; Joel Bell, Sr., 6-8, 3-8, Furman; Cornelius Lewis, Sr., 6-5, 310, Tennessee State; Scott Lemn, Sr., 6-3, 285, James Madison; Stephen Field, Sr., 6-1, 280, Cal Poly.

Tight end - Scott Sicko, Jr., 6-3, 225, New Hampshire.

All-purpose player - Larry Warner, Sr., 5-5, 169, Southern Illinois.

Kicker - Andrew Wilcox, Sr., 6-2, 231, Elon.

Defense
Linemen - Greg Peach, Sr., 6-2, 250, Eastern Washington; Larry Hart, Jr., 6-1, 252, Central Arkansas; Jovan Belcher, Sr., 6-2, 228, Maine; John Faletoese, Sr., 6-3, 290, UC Davis.

Linebackers - Zach East, Sr., 6-2, 230, Prairie View; Jason Williams, Sr., 6-3, 235, Western Illinois; Nathan Williams, Sr., 6-1, 225, Murray State.

Defensive backs - K.J. Gerard, Sr., 6-1, 180, Northern Arizona; Lardarius Webb, Sr., 5-11, 180, Nicholls State; Colt Anderson, Sr., 5-11, 180, Montana ; Mark Legree, Soph., 6-0, 200, Appalachian State.

Punter - Brett Arnold, Sr., 6-0, 185, Massachusetts.

SECOND TEAM
Offense
Quarterback - Rodney Landers, Sr., James Madison.

Running backs - Toddrick Pendland, Jr., McNeese State; Trevyn Smith, Jr., Weber State.

Wide receivers - Andre Roberts, Jr., The Citadel; Terrell Hudgins, Jr., Elon.

Linemen - Raymond Harrison, Sr., South Carolina State; Matthew McCracken, Jr., Richmond; Tim Silver, Sr., Richmond; Nick Hennessey, Sr., Colgate; Jonathan Bieschke, Sr., Appalachian State.

Tight end - Clay Harbor, Jr., Missouri State.

All-purpose player - LeRoy Vann, Jr., Florida A&M.

Kicker - Taylor Long, Sr., Eastern Kentucky.

Defense
Linemen - James Ruffin, Jr., Northern Iowa; Scott Vossler, Sr., Dayton; Greg Miller, Sr., Villanova; Pierre Walters, Sr., Eastern Illinois.

Linebackers - Chris Covington, Sr., Georgia Southern; Andy Roman, Sr., Lafayette; Bobby Abare, Sr., Yale.

Defensive backs - Marcus Haywood, Sr., James Madison; Dominique Johnson, Sr., Jackson State; Dontrell Miller, Jr., Tennessee-Martin; Charles Graves, Jr., Delaware.

Punter - Robbie Dehaze, Sr., Northern Arizona.

THIRD TEAM
Offense
Quarterback - Cameron Higgins, Soph., Weber State.

Running backs - William Ford, Jr., South Carolina State; David Sinisi, Jr., Monmouth.

Wide receivers - Thomas Harris, Jr., Alabama A&M; Cameron Luke, Sr., Texas State.

Linemen - Brad Samsa, Sr., Youngstown State; Eman Naghavi, Sr., McNeese State; Derek Wooten, Sr., Wofford; Jon Compas, Sr., UC Davis; James Williams, Jr., Harvard.

Tight end - Abner Brown, Sr., Mississippi Valley State.

All-purpose player - Williams Osborne, Jr., Texas Southern.

Kicker - Andrew Samson, Soph., Pennsylvania.

Defense
Linemen - Kevin Walsh, Sr., Monmouth; Austen Lane, Jr., Murray State; Everette Pedescleaux, Sr., Northern Iowa; Tim Knicky, Jr., Stephen F. Austin.

Linebackers - Jeffrey Williams, Soph., Gardner-Webb; Jarrell Guyton, Sr., Morgan State; Andy Schantz, Sr., Portland State.

Defensive backs - Philip Ashley, Jr., Charleston Southern; #Tommy Connors#, Jr., Southeastern Louisiana, Nick Schommer, Sr., North Dakota State; Carnell Clark, Jr., Jacksonville State.

Punter - Doug Spada, Jr., Southeast Missouri State.