Site lists Rams among the greatest
Special to The Chronicle
Five Central Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (CIAA) student-athletes were named among the Top 100 football players in Division II by D2Football.com, a news web site for fans of Division II football.
The Top 100 football players list was released late last month and includes Winston-Salem State University’s Carlos Fields and Donnie Owens, Robert Holland and T. J. Batchelor of Chowan and Virginia Union’s Devin Wallace. The full Top 100 DII Players list can be found at D2Football.com.
Fields, who was the highest ranked CIAA player at 13, is the reigning CIAA Defensive Player of the Year. He finished last season with 117 tackles, including nine for a loss, en route to receiving an All-American nod. As a sophomore, the now senior linebacker tallied 81 tackles, 12 for a loss, and 4.5 sacks.
Owens, the current CIAA Defensive Lineman of the Week, ranked 90th on the list after a Second Team All-CIAA season a year ago, registering 62 tackles, 10.5 for a loss, and seven sacks.
Despite coming off an injury, Chowan wide receiver Holland is ranked 38th. The three-time All-CIAA student-athlete played in only one game last year, racking up 213 yards and three touchdowns. He holds nine school records, including most career receiving touchdowns and yards. Batchelor, who was ranked 88th, posted 77 tackles, including 20.5 for a loss, along with 12.5 sacks during his First Team All-CIAA season in 2012. The senior defensive end is listed as a DII Preseason All-American by two publications.
Virginia Union’s cornerback Wallace is ranked 62nd after finishing last season with one interception and eight pass breakups. The senior recorded 46 tackles, including a 10-stop performance in a win over Brevard.