■ Gabriel Manns, a senior offensive lineman at N.C. Central and a Winston-Salem native who starred at East Forsyth, has been selected to play in two postseason all-star games -- the ninth annual East Coast Bowl on Nov. 28 in Petersburg, Va., (noon) and the inaugural Russell Athletic HBCU Bowl on Dec. 19 in Montgomery, Ala. (2 p.m.)
Manns (6-6, 320) was a four-year starter at tackle for N.C. Central and played on back-to-back CIAA championship teams in 2005 and 2006.
The East Coast Bowl is for draft-eligible seniors from FCS, Division II and III and NAIA teams across the Mid-Atlantic. The HBCU Senior Bowl matches draft-eligible seniors from the MEAC and CIAA (East team) against draft-eligible seniors from the SWAC and SIAC (West).
■ An autopsy has found that Ja'Quayvin Smalls, who died during his first preseason workout at Western Carolina, suffered complications from an enlarged heart. Smalls, a junior defensive back from Wando, S.C., and a transfer from Georgia Military College, died in July, hours after collapsing while running.
The Asheville Citizen-Times reported yesterday that an autopsy by Dr. Lawrence Selby found that sickle cell trait and exertion contributed to Smalls' cardiac arrest. The NCAA recommended just before Smalls' death that all of its schools test athletes for the sickle-cell condition. Western Carolina started testing after Smalls' death.
■ Athletics director R.C. Johnson of Memphis has not offered the Tigers' coaching job to anyone and plans to wait until the season ends before announcing their new coach, according to a university spokesman.
Leading candidate Jerry Gray, the Washington Redskins secondary coach, won't say if he has been offered the job.
Gray told Washington reporters yesterday that the Redskins are preparing to play Philadelphia when asked if he had been offered the Memphis job. He says a coach will know it's time to become a head coach when people are trying to get him.
■ Media members who cover the Southern Conference named Armanti Edwards of Appalachian State as the league's offensive player of the year, end Josh Beard of Chattanooga as the defensive player of the year, running back Michael Johnson of Western Carolina as the freshman of the year, and Russ Huesman of Chattanooga as the coach of the year.
All four won the same awards in voting by conference coaches Tuesday, with Huesman sharing the coaching award.
FIRST TEAM
Offense: QB Armanti Edwards, RB Devon Moore, OL Mario Acitelli, OL Brett Irvin (Appalachian); RB Chris Evans, OL Jon Weber (Samford); OL David Harrison, WR Terrell Hudgins (Elon)
OL Pat Illig (Wofford); TE Alex Sellars, WR Andre Roberts (The Citadel)
Defense: DL Josh Beard, DB Jordan Tippit (Chattanooga); DL Andre Campbell (Elon); DL Jabari Fletcher, LB D.J. Smith, DB Mark LeGree, DB Cortez Gilbert (Appalachian); DL Brent Russell (Georgia Southern); LB Kadarron Anderson, DB Ryan Steed (Furman); LB Bryce Smith (Samford)
Specialists: PK Craig Camay (Chattanooga); P Bob Hooper (Samford); RS CoCo Hillary (Appalachian)
SECOND TEAM
Offense: QB Scott Riddle, RB Jamal Shuman, OL Chris Werden (Elon); RB Tersoo Uhaa, OL Tyler Haynes, WR Adam Mims (Furman); OL Daniel DeHaven (Citadel); OL Pat Mills, TE Ben Jorden (Appalachian); OL Chris Harr, WR Blue Cooper (Chattanooga)
Defense: DL John Michael Clay (Samford); DL Lanston Tanyi, LB Jacque Roman, DB Ed Gainey (Appalachian); DL Eric Ludwig, DB Karlos Sullivan (Elon); DL Joshua Williams, DB Buster Skrine (Chattanooga); LB Adrian McLeod, LB Chris Collins (Western Carolina); DB Cortez Allen (Citadel)
Specialists: PK Jason Vitaris (Appalachian); P Chris Tommie (Wofford); RS Andre Roberts (Citadel)
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