File Photo Courtesy of Mark Campbell

NEW YORK -- University of Delaware junior safety Charles Graves (at right), who led a Blue Hen defense that ranked among the top units in the league this fall, has earned second team All-American football honors by the Associated Press.

Graves, a 6-0, 195 lb. family studies major from Raleigh, N.C. (Southeast Raleigh High School), was one of 75 NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) athletes recognized on the three teams. The teams were selected by a committee of Associated Press sportswriters.

The Associated Press was the third major All-American team announced this month with the American Football Coaches Association and Walter Camp Foundation being release earlier. The Sports Network will release its All-American teams within the next week.

Also a first team All-CAA selection earlier this season, Graves spearheaded a Delaware defense that ranked fourth in the CAA by allowing just 20.7 points per game. A second-year starter, 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.

He becomes the first UD defensive back to earn All-American honors since Sidney Haugabrook captured a spot on four All-American teams, including first team honors by the American Football Coaches Association and Walter Camp Foundation in 2004.

Graves was one of 10 CAA players honored on the teams and was joined by James Madison center Scott Lemn, New Hampshire tight end Scott Sicko, Massachusetts punter Brett Arnold, and Maine defensive lineman Jovan Belcher on the first team, and James Madison quarterback Rodney Landers, Richmond offensive linemen Matt McCracken and Tim Silver, Villanova defensive lineman Greg Miller, and James Madison defensive back Marcus Haywood on the second team.

AGATE:

1st Team: Offense: QB - Armanti Edwards (Appalachian State); RB - Herb Donaldson (Western Illinois), Rashad Jennings (Liberty); WR - Ramses Barden (Cal Poly), John Matthews (San Diego); TE - Scott Sicko (New Hampshire); OL - Colin Dow (Montana), Joel Bell (Furman), Cornelius Lewis (Tennessee State), Stephen Field (Cal Poly), Scott Lemn (James Madison); AP - Larry Warner (Southern Illinois); K - Andrew Wilcox (Elon)

Defense - DL - Greg Peach (Eastern Washington), Larry Hart (Central Arkansas), Jovan Belcher (Maine), John Faletoese (UC Davis); LB - Zach East (Prairie View), Jason Williams (Western Illinois), Nathan Williams (Murray State); DB - K.J. Gerard (Northern Arizona), Mark Legree (Appalachian State), Colt Anderson (Montana), Lardarius Webb (Nicholls State); P - Brett Arnold (Massachusetts).

2nd team: Offense: QB - Rodney Landers (James Madison); RB - Toddrick Pendland (McNeese State), Trevyn Smith (Weber State); WR - Andre Roberts (The Citadel), Terrell Hudgins (Elon); TE - Clay Harbor (Missouri State); OL - Raymon Harrison (South Carolina State), Matt McCracken (Richmond), Tim Silver (Richmond), Nick Hennessey (Colgate), Jonathan Bieschke (Appalachian State); AP - LeRoy Vann (Florida A&M); K - Taylor Long (Eastern Kentucky)

Defense - James Ruffin (Northern Iowa), Scott Vossler (Dayton), Greg Miller (Villanova), Pierre Walters (Eastern Illinois); LB - Chris Covington (Georgia Southern), Andy Romans (Lafayette), Bobby Abare (Yale); DB - Marcus Haywood (James Madison), Charles Graves (Delaware), Dominique Johnson (Jackson State), Dontrell Miller (Tennessee-Martin); P - Robbie Dehaze (Northern Arizona).

3rd team: Offense: QB - Cameron Higgins (Weber State); RB - William Ford (South Carolina State), David Sinisi (Monmouth); WR - Thomas Harris (Alabama A&M), Cameron Luke (Texas State); TE - Abner Brown (Mississippi Valley State); OL - Brad Samsa (Youngstown State), Eman Naghavi (McNeese State), Derek Wooten (Wofford), Jon Compas (UC Davis), James Williams (Harvard); AP - Williams Osborne (Texas Southern); K - Andrew Samson (Pennsylvania

Defense: DL - Kevin Walsh (Monmouth), Austen Lane (Murray State), Everette Pedescleaux (Northern Iowa), Tim Knicky (S.F. Austin); LB - Jeffrey Williams (Gardner-Webb), Jarrell Guyton (Morgan State), Andy Schantz (Portland State); DB - Philip Ashley (Charleston Southern), Nick Schommer (North Dakota State), Carnell Clark (Jacksonville State), Tommy Connors (SE Louisiana); P - Doug Spada (SE Missouri State).