Five Fighting Scots Named To Football Gazette All-American Team
Amico Selected to First Team on Defense
January 18, 2006

Complete All-America Team (PDF)

EDINBORO, PA – Five Edinboro University football players have been named to Don Hansen’s Football Gazette All-American Teams. Leading the way was Chris Amico (Webster, NY/West Irondequoit), who was the Fighting Scots’ lone representative on the first team.

Amico was one of three Edinboro defensive players to earn All-American honors, representative of a defense which led NCAA Division II in three statistical categories. Edinboro finished with an 8-2 record this past season, earning its third straight PSAC West championship. The Fighting Scots led the country in scoring defense (9.3 ppg.), rushing defense (53.7 ypg.) and total defense (211.2 ypg.).

In addition to Amico’s first team selection, a pair of offensive linemen earned third team All-American honors, offensive tackle Greg Bzorek (Saxonburg, PA/Knoch) and center Chris Kaczor (Brook Park, OH/ Berea). Chris Avery (Berea, OH/Berea) was named to the third team at cornerback, while inside linebacker Ben Stroup (Columbus, OH/Hilliard Davidson) earned a spot as an honorable mention choice.

Here’s a look at Edinboro’s five Football Gazette All-Americans:

• Chris Amico (DT, 5’10”, 250 lbs., Webster, NY/West Irondequoit) -- the 6’0”, 250 lb. defensive tackle exemplified the undersized but aggressive Fighting Scot defense. He recently became the second Fighting Scot in two years to win the PSAC Defensive Player of the Year Award. He enjoyed a dominating season as Edinboro’s defense ranked among the tops in Division II. The Fighting Scots led the PSAC in sacks with 39. Amico finished third on the team in tackles with 49, with 14.5 tackles for losses totaling 72 yards, second on the team. He led Edinboro with 8.5 sacks, second in the PSAC. In addition, Amico forced a pair of fumbles, with one recovery. Amico was named a Daktronics and D2Football.com second team All-American, and a third team CollegeSportsReport.com All-American.
• Chris Avery (CB, 5’10”, 173 lbs., Sr., Berea, OH/Berea) – after two seasons as a second team selection, the senior was named to the All-PSAC first team for his third All-PSAC honor. Avery led the Fighting Scots with 7 interceptions, tied for the PSAC lead and ranking 11th in Division II. In addition, his return yards of 196 yards is a new school record, and includes a 99-yard return for a touchdown at California(Pa.). A week later he blocked a punt at IUP and recovered it for a touchdown. Avery’s final interception came in his final game at Lock Haven, and was the 20th of his career, a new school record. He totaled 10 tackles. He was also recently named to the Daktronics and D2Football.com second team All-American units. He is presently a member of the men’s basketball team.
• Greg Bzorek (OT, 6’6”, 330 lbs., Sr., Saxonburg, PA/Knoch) – the senior recently played in the Cactus Bowl, capping a brilliant career in which he started 44 of 45 career games. He was also a finalist for the 2005 Gene Upshaw Lineman of the Year Award. All told, Bzorek was named to five All-American squads, including earning a spot on the Associated Press Little All-America second team. As a junior he was accorded third team honors. In addition, he was named to the second team on the Daktronics and D2Football.com All-American teams, and the CollegeSportsReport.com third team. This marks the second straight year he was named to the Football Gazette All-Northeast Region first team, and he was also named to the Daktronics All-Northeast Region first team for the second straight year. He was previously recognized by the PSAC for the third straight year, and for the second straight campaign he was a first team choice. Bzorek did not allow a sack the last two seasons, and helped the offense average 199. 3 ypg. rushing and tie for the PSAC lead in fewest sacks allowed (7).
• Chris Kaczor (C, 6’2”, 293 lbs., Jr., Brook Park, OH/Berea) – a three-year starter, he has now started all 34 games in his career, the last two seasons as the starting center. The junior was a second team All-PSAC West selection at offensive guard as a redshirt freshman, then moved to center and earned second team honors a year ago before being named to the first team this season. Along with Bzorek, he helped the offense average 199. 3 ypg. rushing and tie for the PSAC lead in fewest sacks allowed (7). Kaczor was previously named to the Daktronics All-Northeast Region second team.
• Ben Stroup (ILB, 6’1”, 205 lbs., Jr., Columbus, OH/Hilliard Davidson) – in his first season as a starter, Stroup led Edinboro with 76 tackles, and also had a team-leading 15.5 tackles for losses (57 yards), leading the PSAC in that category. He had 5.5 sacks and an interception. He led the team in tackles in four games, with a career-high 12 tackles, 3 for losses, at East Stroudsburg. Stroup previously earned first team All-PSAC West honors and was a Daktronics All-Northeast Region first team choice.