Demons have Collins, Washington onAll-America team

NATCHITOCHES ­ Two senior stars on Northwestern Statešs Purple Swarm defense, tackle Tory Collins and safety Russ Washington, were named Division I-AA Football Preseason All-Americans Thursday by The Sports Network. They were two of five Southland Conference standouts included on an 81-man All-America list with first and second-team units and honorable mention selections. The players were gleaned from the Sports Network`s positional rankings issued earlier, in which Collins was rated the top defensive tackle in the nation and Washington was the No. 5-ranked safety. Collins, a 6-foot-3, 280-pound senior from New Orleans-Fortier, was a first-team All-America pick Thursday. He has 147 tackles in three seasons at Northwestern, entering his third year as a starter. Washington, a 5-9, 185-pounder from Lamarque, Texas, was an honorable mention selection. He has 258 career tackles, 7 interceptions, 25 pass breakups and has scored twice on interception returns of 35 and 66 yards while starting for the fourth straight year this fall. Two of the SLC`s other three representatives on the team, Nicholls State fullback Broderick Cole and Stephen F. Austin safety Keldrick Holman, each were second-team selections. Texas State cornerback Walter Musgrove was an honorable mention choice. Grambling State had two players honored: receiver Henry Tolbert, a second-team pick, and fullback Reuben Mayes, an honorable mention choice, bringing the total of Louisiana players on the team to five. Collins, who had 14 tackles for lost yardage last season, has also been named a preseason first-team Division I-AA All-America selection in the Street & Smith`s College Football 2006 Yearbook. Collins transferred from LSU before the 2003 season. He was fourth on the Demonsš Purple Swarm defense with 59 tackles in 10 games last fall as Northwestern posted its sixth consecutive winning season, and the 10th in the last 11 years. Collins had 32 solo tackles in 2005. His 14 tackles for lost yardage accounted for 35 negative yards and included one sack. He had two pass deflections, a forced fumble and earned first-team All-America honors from the Football Gazette along with first-team All-Southland Conference and second-team All-Louisiana honors. Washington made 79 tackles in 10 games last year, his highest tackle average. He is beginning his fourth year as a starter and has 20 tackles for lost yardage and 3 fumble recoveries, including one with 1:38 remaining to clinch last yearšs 27-23 win at Louisiana-Monroe.. A two-year pick as a first-team All-SLC safety, Washington has also earned Academic All-SLC honors in his career. They were key figures as the Demons won the SLC title in 2004 and reached the I-AA playoffs.