2011 College Football Dread All-America

This list, of the Division 1 players with the best dreads, is one of my favorite things to do every year. It's also one of the hardest. There are just so many players with outstanding dreads out there, and there are only 72 spots available on the team. While my 2011 All-America with dreads team (recently posted) could contend for a 'national championship', the Dread All-Americans likely would struggle to finish above .500. But still, to see them all on the same sideline would be something else! Here is the team for 2011. I don't think I forgot anybody. Please forgive me if I omitted someone that should be included. (FYI: the number following a player's name indicates where he ranked on the team last season. (1) stands for 1st team last year, etc.)

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1st TEAM OFFENSE

OFF. LINE

-- Devin Goodman - Arizona State . FR

-- A.J. Greene - Auburn . SR

-- Randall Harris (2) - Towson . JR

-- Harrison Martin - Gardner-Webb . JR

-- Brandon Washington (1) - Miami (Florida) . JR

TE

-- Jean Dessein - Bethune-Cookman . JR

WR

-- Josh Jarboe - Arkansas State . JR

-- Lyndon Leslie - Gardner-Webb . SR

RB

-- Troy Pollard (1) - Illinois . SR

-- Jake Walker (2) - Eastern Illinois . JR

QB

-- Munchie Legaux - Cincinnati . SOPH

KR

-- Mychal Bailey - Kentucky . SR

The players most likely on this year's team to have their dreads grabbed while a play was in progress are, of course, RBs Troy Pollard (photo above) and Jake Walker (below), who btw played at schools only 50 miles apart. Pollard, on the team for the 4th year in a row, totalled 475 yards rushing and 2 TD as a senior after gaining just 361 in his first 4 seasons in an Illinois uniform. Walker led EIU with 580 yards rushing and 10 TD this season, but the Panthers finished 2-9.

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Munchie Legaux, an honorable mention selection last year as a WR, makes the 2011 team after switching back to QB.

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Josh Jarboe's sick dreads may yet make their way to the NFL. The 6-foot-3 WR no doubt will get a long look from scouts next season after finishing 2011 with 54 receptions for 730 yards and 2 TD .....

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..... However, sadly, we may never again see the awesome dreads of the other 1st team WR - not unless Lyndon Leslie ends up in the CFL or AFL or some other minor league. Leslie had 25 receptions for 352 yards and 2 TD in 7 games in his final season in a G-W uniform.

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Brandon Washington probably has the longest dreads off any O-lineman in D-1. I just wish he had more of them. Washington, who switched from G to OT this season, got the snub from the coaches for all-ACC honors. But he is considered a solid pro prospect at G and is a lock to be selected in this year's NFL draft after deciding to skip his senior year at the U.

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Jean Dessein has the Haitian name (he was born there) and the south Florida dreads (he went to HS at Pompano Beach Ely). I guess you would have to describe him as a blocking TE. Despite being on the field for a lot of snaps, he had no receptions at all this season for the 8-3 Wildcats.

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Once again Mychal Bailey couldn't make the team as a safety, but I was able to get him on the team thanks to special teams. Just to show you how feeble the UK offense was this season, Bailey led the Wildcats in all-purpose yards with 600 - all coming on kickoff returns (20.7 average on 29 KR).

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1st TEAM DEFENSE

DEF. LINE

-- Bakari Smith (1) - Morgan State . JR

-- Kasey Smith (2) - FIU . JR

-- Brandon Thurmond (1) - Arkansas-Pine Bluff . SR

-- Jared Williams - Rice . JR

LB

-- Brandon Carr - East Carolina . JR

-- T.J. Stripling - Georgia . SOPH

-- Jason Wooding (1) - Howard . SOPH

CB

-- Charles Sawyer (2) - Mississippi . SOPH

-- Ken Spigner - UNLV . JR

S

-- Winston Guy (3) - Kentucky . SR

-- Lacy McDougald - Jacksonville . SR

PR

-- Michael Johnson - UNLV . SR

DE Jared Williams had 35 tackles, 6 TFL, 1 sack, and a 47-yard pick six during his junior season for the 4-8 Owls.

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DE Bakari Smith (photo above) celebrates with teammates after a 14-9 win over Howard in the New York Urban League Classic on Sept. 24 at the Meadowlands. Smith is a repeat 1st team selection, as is DE Brandon Thurmond (below) of UAPB.

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If you've been following my coverage of the 2011 season, you already know that I can't get enough of seeing Winston Guy's dreads. I'm hoping really hard that we'll be seeing them on Sundays from now on.

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Lacy McDougald, the other 1st team S, got his hands on the ball often this season, leading Jacksonville in INT (5), FR (4), and hair (wow!).

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Last year I mentioned that Charles Sawyer needed to do better if he was planning on an NFL career in the future, and he did exactly that, turning in an outstanding sophomore season for the Rebels with 4 INT, 9 PBU and 1 TD.

Very sadly, the awesome dreads of the three 1st team LBs spent most of the season on the sideline. T.J.Stripling (above), Jason Wooding, and Brandon Carr had a meager total of 4 tackles between them.

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Michael Johnson would have made the team as a WR, but I moved him to PR to open up a WR spot for somebody else. Johnson scored 6 career TD and won only 14 games during his 4 seasons at UNLV.

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2nd TEAM OFFENSE

OFF. LINE

-- Shelley Anthony (3) - FAMU . SOPH

-- Drew Bellamy (3) - Towson . FR

-- Cyril Richardson (2) - Baylor . SOPH

-- Bryant Ross - Alabama A&M . JR

-- Aderious Simmons (1) - Arizona State . SR

TE

-- Marcel Jensen (1) - Fresno State . JR

WR

-- James Green - Toledo . SOPH

-- Sancho McDonald - MTSU . SR

RB

-- Jourdan Brooks - Morgan State . SR

-- Mike Harris - Murray State . SR

QB

-- David Isabelle - Alabama A&M . JR

KR

-- Tavares Crawford - Eastern Illinois . SOPH

With all the dreads hating going on at UAB last year, David Isabelle couldn't make the team. But after a transfer to AAMU, the dreads were flowing this season, and they're the 2nd-best QB dreads in D-1.

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If DuJuan Harris can play in the NFL, I gotta believe that Mike Harris (above) can too. Hopefully we'll see these sick dreads on Sundays next season after Mike's 2nd consecutive strong season for Murray State.

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James Green scored his 1st TD in a Toledo uniform this season, but it wasn't on this play here during the Rockets' controversial loss to Syracuse on Sept. 24. Green, who caught 9 passes for 70 yards as a freshmam, caught 9 for 118 yards this season, numbers that hopefully will increase dramatically in the next two seasons.

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A QB in high school, Sancho McDonald finished with 12 career TD catches for MTSU, including 6 in 2011. As big a fan as I am of McDonald, I have to admit that this might be the end of the line for his career. Hopefully I'm wrong, but I'm afraid he's just not fast enough for the NFL.

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There are more players from the MEAC on the team (11) than any other conference, including Shelley Anthony, who started all 11 games at C for the 7-4 Rattlers.

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2nd TEAM DEFENSE

DEF. LINE

-- James Jones - FIU . SR

-- John Robles (3) - Troy . SR

-- Christian Smith (3) - Toledo . SOPH

-- Ugo Uzodinma - New Mexico . JR

LB

-- Brandon Maye - Mississippi State . SR

-- Reggie Sandilands (3) - Bethune-Cookman . SR

-- Isaac Wright - Kansas . JR

CB

-- Marcus Berg (2) - Alabama State . SOPH

-- K.J. Morton - Baylor . SOPH

S

-- Dominique Ellis (2) - South Carolina State . SR

-- Jerron McMillian (1) - Maine . SR

PR

-- Bobby Felder - Nicholls State . SR

Ugo Uzodinma, who made the move along with (the now fired) coach Locksley from Illinois to New Mexico, sacks QB Tyler Wilson during a 52-3 loss to Arkansas on Sept. 10. It was his only sack of the season.

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Brandon Maye shows off his sick dreads, and his dejection, during a 19-6 home loss to LSU on Sept. 15. Maye had 41 tackles and 3 TFL in his only season in a Mississippi State uniform after playing his first three seasons at Clemson.

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It wasn't all good for K.J. Morton this season, but there were plenty of highlights to celebrate. The Bears' D gave up 64 TD and 488 yards per game in 2011, but K.J. was an honorable mention all-Big 12 selection, finishing with 4 INT and 6 PBU.

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1st team all-MEAC S Dominique Ellis (photo above) and 1st team all-CAA S Jerron McMillian (below) starred in the FCS, but are they good enough for the NFL? We'll soon find out, as their pre-draft workouts will be crucial in determining whether or not we'll continue to get the chance to enjoy these great dreads in the years ahead.

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You can make it to the NFL from Nicholls State, as Lardarius Webb has proven. Hopefully Bobby Felder (above) will follow in his footsteps as a CB and kick returner. Felder averaged 6.9 yards on 13 PR in 2011 and finishes his career at NSU with 12 career INT.

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3rd TEAM OFFENSE

OFF. LINE

-- Lamone Buford - Hampton . JR

-- Quinterrius Eatmon - South Florida . FR

-- Terell Hawkins (1) - Howard . JR

-- Derrick Ivory - FAMU . JR

-- Gideon Scott - South Carolina State . JR

WR

-- Martize Barr (*) - New Merxico . FR

-- Kenneth Dabney - Mississippi Valley State . SOPH

-- Allen Hurns - Miami (Florida) . SOPH

RB

-- Bradley Battles - South Florida . SOPH

-- Montavious Paulk - Alabama State . SOPH

QB

-- Denard Robinson (2) - Michigan . JR

KR

-- Dayonne Nunley - Miami (Ohio) . SOPH

(*) Barr was a S at the start of the season but switched to WR. He left the team after the coaching change at UNM and will play his 2012 season in junior college.

Denard Robinson, also on my All-America with dreads team, celebrates Michigan's thrilling 35-31 victory over Notre Dame on Sept. 10, during which he threw 4 TD passes, two of them coming in the final 1:12, including the game winner with :02 on the clock.

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The Hampton QB is under pressure on this play against Savannah State on Oct. 29, but don't blame Lamone Buford for it. Buford started 9 of the Pirates' 11 games this season, 2 at RG and then final 7 at RT.

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Allen Hurns tries for a reception during a 30-24 win at North Carolina on Oct. 15. In his first season in the starting lineup Hurns had a modest 31 catches for 415 yards and 4 TD for the Hurricanes.

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Dayonne Nunley had a lot of moments better than this one, as Toledo scores another TD in their 49-28 win over the other Miami on Oct. 22. In addition to being a 1st team all-MAC CB, Nunley averaged 23.0 yards on 16 KR, including a 72-yarder. But the RedHawks, 10-4 last season, dropped back down to 4-8.

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3rd TEAM DEFENSE

DEF. LINE

-- Romale Tucker - Towson . JR

-- Lamar Wallace - Tennessee State . JR

-- Avon Waters - Mississippi Valley State . JR

-- Dorvus Woods - Arkansas State . SR

LB

-- Trulon Henry - Illinois . SR

-- Rodney Paulk - South Carolina . SR

CB

-- Darryl Hamilton - Richmond . JR

-- Eriq Lewis - ODU . FR

S

-- Jahleel Addae (2) - Central Michigan . JR

-- Jakarie Jackson - JMU . JR

-- Leonard Smith - Jacksonville . JR

PR

-- Serge Kona - Duquesne . JR

There are 6 players on the team from the Sun Belt Conference, including Dorvus Woods (photo above), who also made my all-America with dreads team; and 7 from the SEC, including 6th year senior Rodney Paulk (below), who ranked 3rd on the Gamecocks with 57 tackles in 2011.

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Both of the 3rd team CBs played for teams in the CAA, Darryl Hamilton of Richmond (above) and Eriq Lewis (below) of ODU. Lewis is shown celebrating after the second of his 2 INTs in the final 1:50 clinched a 35-31 win at William & Mary on Nov. 12, a feat that earned him CAA defensive player of the week honors. Despite being plagued by a high ankle sprain during the second half of the season, Lewis still was a 2nd team all-CAA selection in his freshman season.

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Also representing the CAA on the team are DE Romale Tucker (above), being interviewed at Towson media day on Aug. 24, and Jakarie Jackson (below), shown making one of his 9 tackles in JMU's 28-10 loss at New Hampshire on Nov. 5. Tucker, who started all 12 games for the Tigers, was 3rd on the team in tackles with 73 and 2nd in sacks with 3.5.

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I went with three Ss and two LBs on the 3rd team because I found it impossible to exclude either Jahleel Addae or Leonard Smith from the team. The quality of their play on the field this season matched the excellence of their dreads. Addae (above), a 1st team all-MAC selection, led CMU with 107 tackles and 4 INT, while Smith (below), 1st team all-Pioneer, led JU with 74 tackles and 4 FF.

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HONORABLE MENTION

I could put more than 100 names in this category, but I'm limiting it to those who came the closest to making the team.

OFFENSE

• OL Clint Marsh - Grambling . SOPH
• TE Alex DeLeon - FAU . FR
• TE Darrell Smith - Clemson . SOPH
• WR Greg Dent - Florida State . SOPH
• WR Jared Haggins - Florida State . SOPH
• WR Stewart Hartman - Howard . FR
• WR Jazz King - Marshall . FR
• WR Nick Mayers - ODU . JR
• WR Cassius McDowell - Toledo . FR
• WR Kiante Minor - Arkansas . FR
• WR Jazz Moss - Bethune-Cookman . FR
• WR Darrius Preston - New Mexico State . JR
• WR Patrick Robertson - Murray State . JR
• WR Lamar Scruggs - South Carolina . SOPH
• WR Marquel Thomas - ODU . SOPH
• WR Jarvis West - Iowa State . FR
• RB Zach Brown - Pittsburgh . SR
• RB Nygee Carmichael - Towson . SOPH
• RB Jamar Cromwell - Robert Morris . SR
• RB Shariff Harris (2) - Southern Illinois . SR
• RB D.D. Kyles - MTSU . SR
• RB Kaelan Mayfield - Southern . SR
• RB Kenny Miles - South Carolina . JR
• RB Jamal "Twitter" Shuman - Elon . SR
• RB Jordan Stanley - FAMU . FR
• RB Taharin Tyson - Tennessee-Chattanooga . FR
• QB Greg Jenkins - Alabama State . JR
• QB Larry Smith (3) - Vanderbilt . SR
• KR Travis James - Tennessee State . JR
• KR Jeremy Woodson - Bryant . SOPH

I'm very pleased to report that the number of QBs with sick dreads continues to rise as the years go by, as evidenced by the fact that Larry Smith (above, who made the team the three previous seasons) and Greg Jenkins (below) had to settle for honorable mention status.

DEFENSE

• DT Jamarcus Allen - Western Kentucky . JR
• DE Melvin Payne - Alabama A&M . JR
• LB Kevin Claxton - Wisconsin . SR
• LB Terrell Manning - North Carolina State . JR
• LB Edward Terry - Grambling . SR
• LB Mario Walker - Alabama State . JR
• LB Curtis Weatherspoon - South Florida . SR
• CB Shaq Bell - Colorado State . SOPH
• CB Nick Booker-Tandy (3) - Cornell . SR
• CB Deven Drane - Cincinnati . SOPH
• CB Antonio Fenelus - Wisconsin . SR
• CB Stephon Gilmore - South Carolina . JR
• CB D.D. Goodson - Colorado . FR
• CB Milton Howell - Tulsa . SR
• CB Marty Markett - South Carolina . SR
• CB Vincent Moss - Mississippi . SR
• CB Demetrious Nicholson - Virginia . FR
• CB Dionte Ponder - Troy . FR
• CB Jason Verrett - TCU . SOPH
• S Nick Beard - Eastern Illinois . SOPH
• S Tre Boston - North Carolina . SOPH
• S Jarrell Drane - Indiana . SR
• S Josh Evans - Florida . JR
• S Josh Furman - Michigan . FR
• S Sharrod Golightly - South Carolina . SOPH
• S Brian Gupton - North Carolina . SR
• S Terrance Parks - Florida State . SR
• S Demetrius Pettway - Western Michigan . SOPH
• S Josh Richmond - Akron . JR
• S Devon Walker - Tulane . JR
• PR Darreion Robinson - Georgia Southern . JR

If he played any position other than S, Terrance Parks (above) would have made the team. And ditto for UNC sophomore Tre Boston (below).

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SPECIAL MENTION

NRA

As in no reduced allowed. My disdain for reduced dreads just keeps increasing the more this disease keeps spreading throughout all of sports. Whether they did it by their own choice or were ordered to do it, these players missed the team because they kept their dreads reduced on game days for most or all of this season.

• WR Travis Benjamin (3) - Miami (Florida) . SR
• DE Bruce Irvin (2) - West Virginia . SR
• RB Eddie Lacy - Alabama . SOPH
• LB Robert Nelson - Tennessee . SOPH
• OT Dallas Thomas (2) - Tennessee . JR

NYC

As in next year's candidates. These players were not considered for the team because they redshirted (I think) this season. But they have the dreads that will give them a great chance to make the team in 2012.

• CB Sherrod Baltimore - Maine . FR
• G Justin Bell - Mississippi . FR
• WR Chris Dunkley - South Florida . FR
• CB Terrance Floyd - Wisconsin . FR
• RB Jarvis Giles - Louisville . SOPH
• WR Najee Green - Maine . FR
• CB Champ Lewis - Western Kentucky . FR
• TE Devonte Lindsey - Morgan State . FR
• LB Anthony McIntyre - North Carolina Central . FR
• WR J.D. McKissic - Arkansas State . FR
• RB Pete Miller - West Virginia . FR
• S Roderick Ryles - Pittsburgh . FR
• WR Chris Williams - Troy . JR