SELINSGROVE, Pa. - Three Susquehanna University football stars have been recognized as members of various preseason All-America teams - sophomore cornerback Antonio Nash, senior center Dave Wonderlick and senior offensive tackle Randy Zook - with each earning at least one first-team honor.
In addition, the Crusaders are ranked 25th by Street and Smith's College Football in its preseason Top 25 poll, joining Middle Atlantic Conference rival Lycoming as the only two MAC schools ranked in the magazine's survey.
Nash (Washington, D.C./Spring Brook, Md., H.S.) was a near-consensus All-American as a freshman in 1999 and has been named to no fewer than five preseason All-American teams in 2000. The 5-9, 170-pound Nash was named the Division III Defensive Back of the Year by Don Hansen's Football Gazette last season and made three of four Division III All-American Teams, earning first-team in two of them. In addition, he was named to the Little All-American Second Team by the Associated Press.
The MAC Commonwealth League Rookie of the Year as well as a first-team league All-Star at defensive back and a second-team All-Star as a return specialist, Nash was also Susquehanna's defensive and special teams player of the year. He tied the school record for season interceptions with 10 (Other Record Holders: Mike Fabian, 1971; Cory Mabry, 1988; Jeremy Zeisloft, 1996) and led the MAC while tying for third in NCAA Division III (1.0 per game). Nash also led the team in pass break-ups with seven, blocked a kick and posted 50 tackles (33 solo) - two of them for losses of two yards. He also led the MAC and was tied for 17th in Division III punt return average at 13.2.
An accounting major, he is the son of Joann and Sampson Nash, Jr.
A 1999 GTE Academic All-America College Division Football First Team selection and a second-team MAC Commonwealth League All-Star, Wonderlick (Shenandoah, Pa./ Shenandoah Valley H.S.) is a Division III Preseason All-American as selected by Preview Sports. He was a recipient of the team's Bob Pittello Offensive Lineman of the Year Award in his first season as a full-time starter, as the 5-10, 245-pounder became one of the top performers on a line which helped Susquehanna finish second in MAC rushing offense (163.5 yards per game), and fifth overall (345.7 yards per game). Wonderlick did not allow a sack in 289 pass plays and gave up just three-and-a-half hurries.
Wonderlick is the top student in the senior class with a perfect 4.0 cumulative grade point average as a communications/theatre arts major. Named one of the team's tri-captains for the 2000 season, he is the son of Len and Louise Wonderlick.
Zook (Belleville, Pa./Indian Valley H.S.), a member of the D3football.com "Preseason Team of the Year" First Team, has been a unanimous first-team MAC Commonwealth League All-Star each of the last two seasons. Last season he was an honorable mention selection on the "Team of the Year" by D3football.com, as well as a repeat pick to the All-South Region Team by Don Hansen's Football Gazette. The 6-5, 260-pounder had 16 knockdown blocks and also helped key the aforementioned success of the Crusader offense.
Also chosen as a team captain for the 2000 season, Zook is a public relations major and the son of Raymond and Joann Zook.
The Crusaders will kick off their quest for a third consecutive MAC Commonwealth championship and 15th straight non-losing season on Saturday, September 2 with a conference game at FDU-Madison. Susquehanna finished 7-3 in 1999 and 4-1 in league play under head coach Steve Briggs, who enters his 11th season with the most victories in school history (68-34, .667 percentage).
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