ASU trio

earns honor
From staff reports

Three Appalachian State players were named to the Walter Camp Football Foundation’s FCS All-American team Friday.

Quarterback Armanti Edwards, offensive tackle Jonathan Bieschke and safety Mark LeGree received the honor. Appalachian State was the only team in the nation to have three players named to the squad.

Edwards, a Walter Payton Award candidate, finished the 2008 season with 2,902 passing yards and 30 touchdowns, 941 rushing yards and 11 TDs, making him responsible for 3,033 yards and 41 touchdowns in total offense.

Edwards led the Mountaineers to an 11-3 overall record, an 8-0 Southern Conference finish and Appalachian State’s fourth straight Southern Conference championship. He had a pass-efficiency rating of 170.19, which was second nationally.

Bieschke, the Mountaineers’ right tackle, is the third Appalachian State offensive lineman to earn a Walter Camp All-American honor. Fellow tackle Matt Isenhour made the team in 2006 and guard Kerry Brown was named in 2007.

Bieschke, a first-team All-SoCon tackle, helped the Mountaineers average 463.6 yards in total offense per game, which was fourth in the FCS. Appalachian State was fifth in scoring at 37.3 points per game and eighth in rushing offense with 229.3 yards per game.

LeGree led the nation with 10 interceptions. A sophomore, LeGree’s 10 picks broke the Mountaineers’ record of eight, set by Larry Harbin back in 1963. It also tied a Southern Conference record.

LeGree also had 58 tackles and defended 17 passes. Three of his tackles went for a loss and another was a sack. He also forced a fumble.

Edwards will find out if he is the winner of the Payton Award, given by The Sports Network, Thursday in Chattanooga, Tenn.