June 27, 2000
Release: Upon Receipt

THREE PALADINS NAMED TO SPORTS NETWORK PRE-SEASON
ALL-AMERICA FIRST TEAM; FIVE PALADINS RANKED IN TSN TOP 15

GREENVILLE -- Three Furman University football players have been named to The Sports Network Pre-Season All-America first team and five Paladins have been ranked among the nation's Top 15 players at their respective positions, it was announced today.

Senior offensive tackle Josh Moore, junior tight end Trent Sansbury, and junior linebacker Will Bouton were among 24 players named to the first team All-America squad. All three players earned consensus first team All-Southern Conference honors in 1999 after helping lead Furman to a 9-3 record and Southern Conference championship season that included a 28-3 win over North Carolina.

"We're pleased that Josh, Trent, and Will have received this recognition," said Furman head coach Bobby Johnson. "They are among the top players in one of the best leagues in I-AA football, so I think they qualify for All-America consideration. We'll see if they can make good on their pre-season billing."

Moore, from Cross Hill, S.C., played a key role in a Paladin offense that averaged 36.0 points and 424.3 yards per game a year ago. Sansbury, a product of Lilburn, Ga., caught eight passes for 78 yards and a touchdown while also earning high marks as a blocker in 1999. Greenville native and two-year starter Will Bouton, meanwhile, racked up 130 tackles last year in helping Furman into the NCAA I-AA playoffs.

In rating the nation's Top 15 players by position, five Paladins made the Sports Network's list. Trent Sansbury is rated the top tight end in I-AA football, and Josh Moore is considered the second best tackle in the country. Will Bouton ranks fourth nationally among linebackers, while senior Justin Hill of Greer is rated as the sixth best quarterback. Among running backs, junior tailback Louis Ivory is ranked ninth. Hill completed 62.4 percent of his passes and accounted for 2,199 yards in total offense and 17 touchdowns in 1999. Ivory, meanwhile, rushed for 1,519 yards and 14 touchdowns a year ago to become the first Paladin 1,000-yard rusher since 1992.

Furman opens its 2000 season on Sept. 2 against Elon at Paladin Stadium.