Photo Courtesy of Mark Campbell

RICHMOND, Va. -- Four University of Delaware football standouts, led by first team selection Charles Graves (#30 at right), were named to the Colonial Athletic Association football all-star team announced by the league office Monday afternoon.

The teams, led by Offensive Player of the Year Rodney Landers of James Madison and Defensive Player of the Year Jevon Belcher of Maine, were selected by the 12 league coaches.

Graves, a junior safety from Raleigh, N.C. (Southeast Regional High School), was the lone Blue Hen on the first team while junior defensive end Matt Marcorelle (John Carroll/Fort Pierce, Fla.) and senior center Kheon Hendricks (Woodlawn/Pikesville, Md.) earned second team honors and senior tight end Robbie Agnone (Red Land/Etters, Pa.) earned a spot on the third team.

Landers, a senior quarterback who led James Madison to the CAA title, a No. 1 national ranking, and the top seed in the upcoming NCAA Tournament, earned Offensive Player of the Year honors while Belcher, a senior defensive end, was the top defensive player. Other major award included Mickey Matthews being named CAA Coach of the Year, James Madison kick and punt returner Scotty McGee was named Special Teams Player of the Year, running back Jonathan Grimes of William & Mary was named Offensive Rookie of the Year, and James Madison defensive back Pat Williams and New Hampshire defensive lineman Brian McNally shared the Defensive Rookie of the Year citation.

Graves, a second-year starter, spearheaded a Delaware defense that ranked fourth in the CAA by averaging just 20.7 points per game. He led the Blue Hens with 78 tackles, including a team-leading 43 solo stops, while also posting two quarterback sacks, a team-high five interceptions, five pass breakups, and two fumble recoveries. A three-time Blue Hen Touchdown Club Defensive Player of the Week award winner, returned a fumble 45 yards for a touchdown vs. Richmond, a game in which he also intercepted a pass. He recorded nine or more tackles four times, including a career-high 14 stops in the season finale vs. Villanova.

Hendricks, who earned first team All-CAA honors a year ago when he was an All-American, was a third-year starter this fall at center. He started all 12 games this season, extending his streak to 38 straight starts. Delaware’s offense this year averaged 275.8 yards and 17.5 points per game.

Marcorelle, who earned All-American and third team All-CAA laurels as a sophomore in 2007, gained a spot on the third team despite missing three games, including the final two contests, with injuries. He played in nine games with eight starts and recorded 32 tackles, including 15 solo stops. He had three sacks for 18 yards and 4.5 tackles for losses of 20 yards and added three pass breakups and a fumble recovery.

Agnone, who also earned All-American honors a year ago, was a third team choice after playing in all 12 games with 11 starts. He caught 16 passes for 161 yards and two touchdowns, including scoring grabs vs. West Chester and Massachusetts. He also played two games at quarterback this season and completed 9 of 17 passes for 86 yards. His 71 career receptions are the second most in UD history among tight ends.

Delaware finished the 2008 season with a record of 4-8 overall and a fifth place finish in the CAA South Division standings with a mark of 2-6. James Madison is among five CAA teams that have advanced to the NCAA Tournament, including Richmond, Villanova, New Hampshire, and Maine. James Madison had the most All-CAA selections with 18 while Massachusetts had the most first team All-CAA selections with seven.

AGATE:

All-Colonial Athletic Association 1st Team
Offense: QB - Rodney Landers (JMU); RB - Tony Nelson (UMass), Josh Vaughan (Richmond); FB - Jared Turcotte (Maine); WR - Mike Boyle (UNH), Victor Cruz (UMass), Kevin Grayson (Richmond); TE - Scott Sicko (UNH); OL - Ryan Canary (Maine), Vladimir Ducasse (UMass), Ben Ijalana (Villanova), Scott Lemn (JMU), Matthew McCracken (Richmond); PK - Brian Pate (Wm. & Mary); KR - Jonathan Grimes (Wm. & Mary); PR - Scott McGee (JMU); Defense - DL - Jovan Belcher (Maine), Greg Miller (Villanova), Lawrence Sidbury, Jr. (Richmond), Adrian Tracy (Wm. & Mary); LB - Luke Bonus (Hofstra), Eric McBride (Richmond), Josh Jennings (UMass), Osayi Osunde (Villanova); CB - Evan McCollough (JMU), Courtney Robinson (UMass), Justin Rogers (Richmond); S - Charles Graves (Delaware), Marcus Haywood (JMU), Jeromy Miles (UMass); P - Brett Arnold (UMass).

All-Colonial Athletic Association 2nd Team
Offense: QB - Liam Coen (UMass), R.J. Toman (UNH); RB - Aaron Ball (Villanova), Eugene Holloman (JMU); FB - John Crone (Richmond); WR - Marcus Lee (Towson), Matt Szczur (Villanova), Aaron Weaver (Hofstra); TE - Rob Varno (Wm. & Mary), Brian Mandeville (Northeastern); OL - Kheon Hendricks (Delaware), Terrence Apted (JMU), Izzy Bauta (Villanova), Dorian Brooks (JMU), Josh Droesch (UNH), Michael Silva (Richmond); PK - Andrew Howard (Richmond); KR - Scotty McGee (JMU); PR - Derek Hatcher (Richmond); Defense - DL - Matt Marcorelle (Delaware), Hassan Abdul-Wahid (JMU), Tim Kukucka (Villanova), Sherman Logan (Richmond); LB - Andrew Downey (Maine), Matt Hansen (Rhode Island), Marquis Kirkland (Villanova), Matt Parent (UNH); CB - Derek Cox (Wm. & Mary), Dino Vasso (UNH); S - John Clements (UNH), Drew Mack (Towson); P - Tom Bishop (UNH).

All-Colonial Athletic Association 3rd Team
Offense: QB - Jake Phillips (Wm. & Mary), Sean Schaefer (Towson); RB - Alex Broomfield (Northeastern), Jhamal Fluellen (Maine); FB - Griff Yancey (Richmond); WR - Phil Atkinson (Villanova), Jeremy Horne (UMass), D.J. McAulay (Wm. & Mary); TE - Robbie Agnone (Delaware); OL - Christopher Arnao (Maine), Brian Brannigan (Villanova); Sean Calicchio (UMass), Kevin Newhall (Northeastern), Theo Sherman (James Madison); PK - Joe Marcoux (Villanova); KR - Angelo Babbaro (Villanova); PR - Brandon Johnson-Farrell (Rhode Island); Defense - Dave Dalessandro (Villanova), Sam Daniels (JMU), Kyle Harrington (UMass), Arthur Moats (JMU); LB - Phil Higgins (Northeastern), Jordan Manning (Towson), Collin McConaghy (Richmond), Josh Rutter (Wm. & Mary); CB - Salim Koroma (Villanova), Lionel Nixon, Jr. (Maine); S - Nate Thellen (Northeastern), Darrel Young (Villanova); P - David Miller (Wm. & Mary).

Offensive Player of the Year: Rodney Landers (James Madison)
Defensive Player of the Year: Jovan Belcher (Maine)
Coach of the Year: Mickey Matthews (James Madison)
Special Teams Player of the Year: Scotty McGree (James Madison)
Offensive Rookie of the Year: Jonathan Grimes (Wm. & Mary)
Defensive Rookies of the Year: Pat Williams (JMU), Brian McNally (New Hampshire)