All-American picks are led by Edwards

NEW YORK (AP) — Armanti Edwards, Terrell Hudgins and Deji Karim, the finalists for the FCS version of the Heisman Trophy, highlight The Associated Press All-America team for Division I’s second tier.

The team was announced Wednesday.

Edwards, the Appalachian State quarterback, Hudgins, a receiver from Elon, and Karim, a running back from Southern Illinois, are up for the Walter Payton Award, which will be handed out tonight in Chattanooga, Tenn.

Youngstown State senior defensive end Mychal Savage was named a third-team selection.

Savage, who received third-team All-America honors by the Sports Network in 2007, was a three-time first-team All-Missouri Valley Football Conference selection, including 2009. This season, he was credited with 37 total tackles, including a team-high eight tackles for losses and 4.5 sacks.

For his career, he started 44 games for the Penguins, while appearing in 47 contests. He had 153 total tackles, including 76 unassisted stops. He had 20.5 tackles for losses, four fumble recoveries and two forced fumbles.

Edwards was an All-American last season, and could become the first two-time winner of the Payton award and end his career as one of the most celebrated players in the history of what used to be known as I-AA football.

Hudgins led the nation in receptions (111) and yards receiving (1,466) while breaking Jerry Rice’s Division I record for most career 100-yard receiving games (26).

Karim ran for 1,512 yards and scored 17 touchdowns.

Edwards and Karim both have teammates on the first team: Appalachian State defensive back Mark Legree and Southern Illinois linebacker Brandin Jordan.

Montana State and Weber State from the Big Sky Conference also have two players on the first team.

The Bobcats are represented by offensive lineman Jeff Hansen and defensive lineman Dane Fletcher, and the Wildcats by defensive back Josh Morris and offensive lineman Kyle Mutcher.

Completing the backfield on the first team with Edwards and Karim is North Dakota State’s Pat Paschall, who led the division in rushing at 140 yards per game.

Marc Mariani of Montana is the other receiver, while Villanova’s versatile receiver Matt Szczur made the first team as an all-purpose player. The Grizzlies play the Wildcats in the FCS championship game on Friday night in Chattanooga, Tenn.

The other offensive linemen are Derek Hardman of Eastern Kentucky, Matt McCraken of Richmond and Vladimir Ducasse of Massachusetts.

Clay Harbor of Missouri State is the tight end and Matt Bevins of Liberty is the kicker.

The rest of the defensive line includes James Ruffin of Northern Iowa; Arthur Moats of James Madison; and Austen Lane of Murray State. All are up for the Buchanan Award, which goes to the top defensive player in the division.

J.C. Sherritt of Eastern Washington, another Buchanan Award finalist, and Mike Morales of UC Davis are the other linebackers.

Terrell Whitehead of Norfolk State and Charles Graves of Delaware round out the defensive backfield and the punter is Jonathan Plisco from Old Dominion, which restarted its football program this season.