The Tribune-Star
TERRE HAUTE —
Indiana State senior Darrius Gates has been named to the College Sporting News FCS All-American Second Team, according to announcement made Wednesday. All 14 FCS conferences as well as 58 schools and 99 student-athletes nationwide were represented on one of the three squads. CSN is the largest news organization exclusively covering the FCS at CollegeSportingNews.com and ChampionshipSubdivisionNews.com.
Gates was one of 12 members honored from the Missouri Valley Football Conference, which was the third most nationally among all FCS conferences. Gates earned second-team honors at the kick-return specialist position.
Last season, he was an All-MVFC honorable-mention selection as a return specialist. In addition to his exploits as a running back, he tallied 514 yards on kickoff returns in 19 attempts, averaging 27.1 yards per return, including a season-best 57-yarder against Eastern Illinois. His kickoff return average led the MVFC and was ranked fifth nationally. His 82.2 all-purpose yards per game was 12th best in the league.
The Sycamores begin the season on Sept. 4 against St. Joseph’s (Ind.) with a 7:05 p.m. kickoff at Memorial Stadium. Tickets to the game are on sale at the Hulman Center box office..
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In other football news:
• DeJuan Alfonzo Named AFL Ironman Of The Year For 2010 —
Former Indiana State standout DeJaun Alfonzo continues to be a star in the Arena Football League and has been named the AFL’s Ironman Of The Year this season in addition to First Team All-Arena for the Chicago Rush.
Alfonzo has been a major factor for the Rush on offense, defense and special teams for a squad which finished the season 10-6 and advanced to the playoffs for the ninth consecutive season.
“Zo has been one of the game’s best — and most valuable — players for a long time,” Mike Hohensee, Rush head coach for 2010 told the team’s official web site. “His ability to play at a high level all over the field truly makes him one of the game’s special players. We would not have been as successful without him.”
Alfonzo is regarded as one of the best linebackers in the history of the Arena Football League. This past season he recorded 63 tackles, four interceptions - three of which he returned for touchdowns - and 12 passes broken up.
When the injury bug struck the Rush’s wide receiving corps, Alfonzo moved to offense where he caught 28 passes for 328 yards and two touchdowns and rushed for 26 yards with four touchdowns.
Additionally, he was the team’s holder on all extra points and field goals and the team’s best performer on kick returns and kickoff coverage.
Alfonzo is the second Rush player to be named the AFL’s Ironman Of The Year, joining Darmeon Porter, who won the award in 2001.
He also was named to the league’s All-Ironman Team, which features the best two-way players in the AFL. 2010 marked the fourth consecutive season in which Alfonzo was named to the league’s All-Ironman Team.
Alfonzo has been with the Rush since the 2003 campaign and has been named All-Arena three times in his eight seasons of professional football.
Before joining the Rush, Alfonzo was a member of the Indiana Firebirds in 2001-2003.
Alfonzo was a First Team All-American defensive back after the 1999 season at ISU and was a two-time All-Gateway Football Conference Performer in 1998 and 1999. He finished his Sycamore career with 191 tackles, 10 interceptions and 26 pass breakups. He holds the ISU record for career blocked kicks (5) blocked kicks in a season (3 in 1997) and the highest career punt return average (13.5 yards).
