Nov. 21, 2007

GREENVILLE, S.C. -- Eight Furman Paladins have been selected to the 2007 All-Southern Conference football team by the SoCon Sports Media Association, it was announced today.

Furman placed three on the first team, including defensive end Wallace Artis, offensive tackle Joel Bell, and tight end Larry Hedden. Five Paladins, meanwhile, garnered second team honors, including fullback Jerome Felton, defensive tackle Justin Brown, linebacker Andrew Jones, strong safety Andrew Thacker, and free safety Thomas Twitty.

Artis tallied 50 tackles, including 11 for loss, and notched a league leading six sacks on a Paladin defensive unit that topped the SoCon with 29 sacks.

Bell earned starts at left tackle in 10 of Furman's 11 games and helped key a Paladin offensive attack that averaged 31.6 points and 407.8 yards per game.

Hedden, meanwhile, topped all league tight ends with 36 receptions -- the most by a Paladin tight end since 1996 -- for 421 yards and three touchdowns in his first season of starting duty.

Furman won its final three games, including a 52-49 win over 15th-ranked Elon and 24-22 road triumph over 11th-ranked Georgia Southern, to finish the campaign with a 6-5 overall record and 4-3 league mark.