William Freeman Named AP First Team All-America

Dec. 14, 2005

GREENVILLE, S.C. -- Furman senior linebacker William Freeman has been named to the Associated Press I-AA All-America first team, it has been announced.

Freeman headlined a list of three Paladins who garnered AP All-America honors. Senior center Corey Stewart and senior offensive guard Patrick Covington collected second team accolades.

Freeman racked up a team leading 130 tackles in 2005, including 15 tackles-for-loss, in helping Furman to an 11-3 record, No. 3 final regular season season ranking, and NCAA I-AA semifinal playoff appearance. He finished his career with 331 tackles, including 35 tackles-for-loss, nine sacks, and 12 pass deflections. In 2004 he was a consensus Southern Conference Defensive Player-of-the-Year selection and All-America selection by both AP and The Sports Network. In addition, the Swansea, S.C., product was tabbed South Carolina Player-of-the-Year by both the Greenville and Orangeburg Touchdown Clubs.

Stewart from Lilburn, Ga., and Covington, a Charlotte, N.C., native spearheaded the Southern Conference's most productive and balanced offense in 2005 -- one that averaged 469.9 yards per game. Three-year starters, the two-time All-SoCon honorees registered 34 career starts in their respective careers.