NEW YORK – Gardner-Webb tight end Seth Cranfill was named second-team FCS All-America by the Associated Press Wednesday afternoon.
The honor capped an excellent week for Cranfill (Sherrill's Ford, N.C. / Bandys HS), who graduated from Gardner-Webb on Monday with his undergraduate degree in Business Administration.
On the field in 2014, Cranfill led the Big South Conference and ranked among tight ends nationally (FCS) with a league-record 37 catches, turning those into 401 yards and three touchdowns en route to first-team All-Big South Conference honors for the second time in three seasons.
Cranfill posted two catches of 50 yards or longer in 2014 – each the longest of his career. His 75-yard catch-and-run to the end zone vs. No. 2 Coastal Carolina on November 1 was the longest play for a tight end in Big South history.
The 6-foot-4, 246-pound standout established several new records for his position in Big South Conference and Gardner-Webb history over his 33-game career. Cranfill finished with 90 catches for 899 yards and five touchdowns in those 33 games and holds Big South tight end records for career receptions, single-season receptions, single-game receptions (9) and longest reception.
He is also the Gardner-Webb career leader in tight end receptions – and finished ranked 18th overall on the GWU receptions chart.
Cranfill also earned first-team All-Big South Conference honors in 2012 after catching a league-record 37 passes – the same mark he tied this past season.
A Gardner-Webb tight end has been on the All-Big South squad in each of the past three seasons – with Mike Estes (6-4, 236, RSo.) earned second-team honors in 2013.
The Cranfill-Estes combination hauled in 71 passes this past season, with Estes back for the 2015 campaign after catching a career-high 34 passes for 408 yards and two scores in 2014.
Cranfill is the first Gardner-Webb offensive player to earn postseason Division I FCS All-America honors from the Associated Press, and is the eight man overall to be named to the team since 2001.
Gardner-Webb has seen 65 of its standouts selected to at least one postseason All-America Team at the Division I level since 2000.
Gardner-Webb On The Associated Press Division I FCS All-America Team (Since 2000)
2001 – Tory Atkins, Linebacker (Greenville, S.C.) – 2nd Team
2003 – Mario Williams, Safety (Ninety Six, S.C.) – 2nd Team
2003 – Graham Whitlock, Punter (Laurens, S.C.) – 2nd Team
2004 – Harold Wells, Defensive Lineman (Lilburn, Ga.) – 1st Team
2006 – Brian Johnston, Defensive End (San Diego, Calif.) – 2nd Team
2007 – Brian Johnston, Defensive End (San Diego, Calif.) – 1st Team
2008 – Jeffery Williams, Linebacker (Frisco City, Ala.) – 3rd Team
2013 – Shaquille Riddick, Defensive End (Akron, Ohio) – 1st Team
2014 – Seth Cranfill, Tight End (Sherrill's Ford, N.C.) – 2nd Team
The 2014 Associated Press FCS All-America Team
FIRST TEAM
OFFENSE
Quarterback - Vernon Adams, junior, 6-foot, 200 pounds, Eastern Washington.
Running backs - Zach Zenner, senior, 6-0, 220, South Dakota State; Marshaun Coprich, junior, 5-9, 205, Illinois State.
Linemen - Collin Seibert, senior, 6-4, 277, Eastern Illinois; Jake Rummells, senior, 6-5, 301, Northern Iowa; Cole Carruthers, senior, 6-4, 292, Central Arkansas; Joe Haeg, junior, 6-6, 299, North Dakota State; Jake Rodgers, senior, 6-6, 315, Eastern Washington.
Tight end - MyCole Pruitt, senior, 6-3, 255, Southern Illinois.
Wide receivers - Cooper Kupp, sophomore, 6-2, 195, Eastern Washington; R.J. Harris, senior, 6-0, 201, New Hampshire.
All-purpose player - Johnta' Hebert, junior, 5-10, 195, Prairie View A&M.
Kicker - Michael Schmadeke, junior, 5-10, 181, Northern Iowa.
DEFENSE
Linemen - Kyle Emanuel, senior, 6-3, 251, senior, North Dakota State; Zack Wagenmann, senior, 6-3, 250, Montana; Davis Tull, senior, 6-3, 240, Chattanooga; Javon Hargrave, junior, 6-2, 295, South Carolina State.
Linebackers - Don Cherry, junior, 6-1, 221, Villanova; Nick Dzubnar, senior, 6-2, 250, Cal Poly; Quinn Backus, senior, 5-10, 215, Coastal Carolina.
Backs - Donald Payne, sophomore, 6-0, 205, Stetson; Jacob Hagen, senior, 6-3, 205, Liberty; Caleb Schaffitzel, senior, 6-0, 217, Missouri State; Colten Heagle, junior, 5-11, 206, North Dakota State.
Punter - Kyle Loomis, senior, 6-2, 230, Portland State.
SECOND TEAM
OFFENSE
Quarterback - John Robertson, junior, Villanova.
Running backs - Tyler Varga, senior, Yale; Gus Johnson, senior, Stephen F. Austin. Linemen - Chad Hamilton, senior, Coastal Carolina; Ronald Canty, senior, North Carolina A&T; Mike Coccia, redshirt freshman, New Hampshire; Max Holcombe, junior, Jacksonville State; Antoine Everett, senior, McNeese State.
Tight end - Seth Cranfill, senior, Gardner-Webb.
Wide receivers - De'Andre Carter, senior, Sacramento State; Jake Wieneke, freshman, South Dakota State.
All-purpose player - Ed Eagan, junior, Northwestern State.
Kicker - Justin Syrovatka, senior, South Dakota State.
DEFENSE
Linemen - Devaunte Sigler, junior, Jacksonville State; Zack Hodges, senior, Harvard; Mike Reilly, senior, William & Mary; James Cowser, junior, Southern Utah.
Linebackers - Evan Byers, senior, Bucknell; Connor Underwood, junior, Indiana State; Lynden Trail, senior, Norfolk State.
Backs - Jaquiski Tartt, senior, Samford; Christian Ricard, senior, Stony Brook; Jarrett Dieudonne, senior, Wagner; De'Ante Saunders, junior, Tennessee State.
Punter - Cory Carter, junior, Texas Southern.
THIRD TEAM
OFFENSE
Quarterback - Vad Lee, junior James Madison.
Running backs - Chase Edmonds, freshman, Fordham; Malcolm Cyrus, senior, Alabama State. Linemen - Austin Gund, senior, Richmond; Mason Halter, senior, Fordham; Nick Easton, senior, Harvard; Donald Jackson III, junior, Sam Houston State; Jermaine Barton, senior, Illinois State.
Tight end -Faysal Shafaat, senior, Chattanooga.
Wide receivers - Adam Drake, senior, Eastern Illinois; Mark Roberts, Lamar, senior.
All-purpose player - David Johnson, senior, Northern Iowa.
Kicker - Adam Keller, senior, North Dakota State.
DEFENSE
Linemen - Ryan Delaire, senior, Towson; Xavier Williams, senior, Northern Iowa; Jonathan Woodard, junior, Central Arkansas; Jeff Covitz, senior, Bryant.
Linebackers - Tony Bell, senior, Tennessee-Martin; Isiah Corbett, junior, Southeastern Louisiana; Nick Thrasher, senior, Tennessee State.
Backs - Zach Adler, senior, Marist; Harlan Miller, junior, Southeastern Louisiana; Matt Hermanson, senior, Montana; Tye Smith, senior, Towson.
Punter - Eric Anderson, sophomore, Delaware.
