RAJI EL-AMIN NAMED TO FOOTBALL GAZETTE PRESEASON ALL-AMERICA TEAM

EDINBORO, PA - As a freshman Edinboro University's Raji El-Amin (Rochester, NY/Wilson Magnet) earned plenty of honors, including being named to several All-America squads. The honors are starting to come in once again, as the sophomore free safety has been named to Don Hansen's Football Gazette NCAA Division II Preseason All-America Team.

El-Amin was one of the major reasons Edinboro posted its first winning season since 1996, and reached the NCAA Division II Playoffs for the first time since 1995. The Fighting Scots finished with a 9-3 record and were the PSAC West co-champions.

El-Amin broke Edinboro record for interceptions in a season (9) and interception return yards in a season (158), leading the PSAC in interceptions and ranking eighth in Division II in interceptions per game. He finished fourth on the team in tackles with 60, adding a team-high 8 passes broken up, plus a pair of fumble recoveries and a forced fumble. El-Amin returned an interception for a touchdown at Kutztown.

His season was even more amazing since he joined the Fighting Scots over a week after preseason drills had started. After playing as a reserve cornerback in the season opener at Youngstown State, and coming up with his first career interception, he was inserted as the starting free safety a week later and remained the starter over the final eleven games.

El-Amin was a third team Don Hansen Football Gazette 2003 Division II All-America. He was also named to the Associated Press Little All-America Third Team and was selected a D2football.com Second Team All-American and Daktronics Second Team All-American.

In addition, the 5'10", 168 lb. free safety was named the PSAC West Rookie of the Year in addition to earning a spot on the All-PSAC West first team. He was the D2football.com All-Northeast Region Defensive Freshman of the Year and was a D2football.com and Daktronics All-Northeast Region first team selection. Finally, he was named to the Football Gazette All-Northeast Region first team.

Edinboro opens the 2004 season on Saturday, September 4, hosting East Stroudsburg.

~ Fighting Scots ~

Edinboro Athletic Press Release Index

Created on ... August 4, 2004