Tuskegee University offensive lineman Leeward Brown and linebacker Osband Thompson both earn spots on the the 2017 BOXTOROW All-America Team. This is the 11th administered season where voters are comprised of media members from around the nation that cover HBCU football.
Thompson finished the season with 131 tackles, the second most in the nation. This mark is also 35 stops better than the second leading tackler in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC). He notched 6.5 tackles for loss (TFL), made four interceptions, four quarterback hurries, two broken up passes, a pair of forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries. In eight of the teams 10 games, Thompson made a minimum of 10 tackles.
During week two against Albany State, he finished with a season high 16 tackles. He is the first linebacker in 10 years to lead the team in tackles and interceptions in the same season.
Both players helped lead TU to a 2017 SIAC Football Championship
Brown was the team leader with 35 pancakes, and played all four positions this pas season and is one of the reasons TU’s backfield averaged a league leading 8.0 yards per carry. Brown also helped running back Hoderick Lowe earn Most Valuable Player honors in December’s conference championship game when he rushed for a game high 124 yards and a pair of touchdowns. The Miami native graded out at 90 percent in every game this season.
2017 BOXTOROW All-America Team
OFFENSE
QB: Amir Hall, Bowie State, Jr., Bowie, Md.
RB: Trenton Cannon, Virginia State, Sr., Hampton, Va.
RB: Marquell Cartwright, North Carolina A&T, r-Jr., High Point, N.C.
OL: Kenyon Brantley, Alcorn State, r-Sr., Crossett, Ark.*
OL: Leeward Brown, Tuskegee, Sr., Miami, Fla.
OL: Timothy Gardner, Alcorn State, Sr., Indianapolis, Ind.*
OL: Brandon Parker, North Carolina A&T, r-Sr., Kannapolis, N.C.$
OL: Trenton Scott, Grambling, r-Sr., Huntsville, Ala.
OL: Gerald Wright, Howard, Sr., Miami, Fla.
TE: Dillon Beard, Southern, r-Sr., Baton Rouge, La.
WR Elijah Bell, North Carolina A&T, Soph., Wheeling, West Va.
WR: KhaDarel Hodge, Prairie View A&M, r-Sr., D’Lo, Miss.
DEFENSE
DL: Stefen Banks, Savannah State, Jr., Columbus, Ohio
DL: Kawuan Cox, North Carolina Central, Soph., Summerville, S.C.
DL: Darryl Johnson, North Carolina A&T, Soph., Kingsland, Ga.
DL: Aaron Tiller, Southern, Sr., Columbus, Ohio
LB: De’Arius Christmas, Grambling State, Jr., Vicksburg, Miss.
LB: Darius Leonard, South Carolina State, r-Sr., Lake View, S.C.^
LB: Jeremy Taylor , North Carolina A&T, r-Sr., Kinston, N.C.*^
LB: Osband Thompson, Tuskegee , Sr., Miami, Fla.*^
DB: Danny Johnson, Southern, Jr., East Feliciana, La.^
DB: De’Aumante Johnson, Grambling State, Sr., Plain Dealing, La.
DB: Franklin (Mac) McCain, III, North Carolina A&T, r-Fr., Greensboro, N.C.
DB: Davanta Reynolds, North Carolina Central, Jr., Tucker, Ga.
SPECIALISTS
P: Jamie Gillan, Arkansas-Pine Bluff, Jr., Leonardtown, Md.
PK: Marc Orozco, Grambling State, r-Jr., Denton, Texas
RS: Khris Gardin, North Carolina A&T, Jr., Morganton, N.C.%
PR: William Flowers, Bowie State, Soph., Baltimore, Md.
KR: Trenton Cannon, Virginia State, Sr., Hampton, Va.
* indicates tie
$ three-time BOXTOROW All-American
^ BOXTOROW All-America in 2016
% BOXTOROW All-America in 2015