East Stroudsburg, Pa. - East Stroudsburg University linebacker Kevin Nagle has been selected on the first team of the Daktronics, Inc. Division II All-America football team announced Thursday.

The team is selected by members of the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA). It is sponsored by Daktronics, an world leader in scoring, timing and programmable display systems for athletic venues.

Nagle was the leading vote-getter at linebacker. He previously had been chosen as the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Year for the second time and the All-PSAC team for the fourth consecutive year. He also was chosen on the Daktronics All-Northeast Region and the All-ECAC South Region squads for the third time apiece.

This is the first All-America first team recognition for the 6-2, 240-pound graduate student from Effort. He was named to the Don Hansen's Football Gazette Division II All-America second team last season and the third team as a sophomore.

"I'm thrilled," said Nagle upon learning of the award. "I've made the All-Region team three times and it's nice to take the next step to the All-America team."

Nagle led the Warriors in tackles four straight years and had a career total of 477 tackles, second highest in the school's history. He was the PSAC leader in 1998 and 1999 and was second this season with 125 which included eight sacks and 16 tackles for loss.

The former Pleasant Valley High School felt he had his best season this year and was helped by his teammates on an ESU defense which only allowed 290 yards per game, third best of the 14 PSAC schools.

"I was a smarter player this year. I knew the game better and I was much more efficient with my reads," he explained. "In 1997 and even 1998, I would just fly to the ball. This season I understood what the offense was tying to do and I had a better concept what I was supposed to do as an inside linebacker within the total team defense.

Nagle will be playing in the Cactus Bowl Division II All-Star Game Jan. 12 in Kingsville, Tx. along with teammate and offensive tackle Shepard Alston.

He has been running sprints and lifting weights almost daily in preparing for the game which attracts scouts from all the professional teams.

"I've been working on my 40 time," Nagle said. "If I'm going to have a chance at making the pros, my speed will have to get me there."

Two other PSAC players, offensive tackle Jeff Smith of NCAA runner-up Bloomsburg and linebacker Mike Borisenko of IUP, the PSAC Western Division Defensive Player of the Year, made the first team.

Texas A and M Kingsville center Robert Graza is the only repeat selection. The 6-2, 300-pound senior was the Lone Star Conference Offensive Player of the Year.

The top vote-getter on the team was North Dakota State running back Lamar Gordon, picked on 68 of the 79 ballots cast.

Harlon Hill winner Dusty Bonner of Valdosta State is the first team quarterback and is joined by teammate and tight end C.J. Lofton on the team. Bonner completed 72.8 percent of his passes (317 for 435) for 3,907 yards and 54 touchdowns with only six interceptions. Loften caught 63 passes for 890 yards and 13 TDs.

Two players from Shepherd, one of ESU's opponents, tailback Delevon Smith and defensive back James Rooths also made the first team.

All first team players will receive a plaque from Daktronics.

The complete teams are as follows:

First Team Offense: PK-Cameron Paterka, North Dakota; QB Dusty Bonner, Valdosta State; RBs Lamar Gordon, North Dakota State; Dalevon Smith, Shepherd; TE C.J. Lofton, Valdosta State; WR-Clarence Coleman, Ferris State, and Matt Holmlund, Augustana; All-Purpose-Tony Miles, Northwest Missouri; C-Robert Garza, Texas A&M-Kingsville; OG-Chris Booker, Delta State; Clay Clevenger, Carson-Newman; OT-And Erpelding, Northwest State; Jeff Smith, Bloomsburg.

First Team Defense: DL-Chris Cooper, Nebraska-Omaha; Todd DeVree, Hillsdale; Radell Lockhart, Catawba; LBs-Kevin Nagle, ESU; Brian Williams, Northwest Missouri; Mike Borisenko, IUP; Wes Baker, Pittsburg State; DBs-Rory Bell, Delta State; Russel Burwell, South Dakota; Tim Mustapha, Hillsdale; James Rooths, Shepherd; P-Adam Ryan, Fort Hays State.

Second Team Offense: PK-J.W. Boren, Tarleton; QB-J.T. Sullivan, Cal-Davis; RB-Wesley Cates, California, Pa.; DeWayne Miles, West Texas A&M; TE-Steve Comer, Northwest Missouri; WR-Brian Dolph, Saginaw Valley; Chad Luttrull, Henderson State; All-Purpose-Erik Totten, Western Washington; C-Brian Minehart, Slippery Rock; OF-Erik Cuka, Northern State; Matt Howard, Pittsburg State; OT-Ryan Burkholdre, Northern Colorado; Abed Taha, West Georgia.

Second Team Defense: DL-Aaron Becker, Northwest Missouri; Devonte Peterson, Catawba; Dave Zuiderveen, Ferris State; LB-Ryan Goven, North Dakota; Jared Maher, North Dakota State; Danielle Rollins, Arkansas-Monticello; Kris Spraker, Cal-Davis; DB-Roosevelt Benjamin, Clarion; Nate Coggins, West Georgia; Marquis Floyd, West Georgia; Chad Geiger, Nebraska-Omaha; Dontaye McCoy, Emporia State

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