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EDINBORO, PA – The Edinboro University
football team has three players named to the 2006 Daktronics
Division II All-Northeast Region Team. Edinboro completed its
first season under head coach Scott Browning with a 6-5 record.
Linebacker Ben Stroup (Columbus, OH/
Hilliard Davidson) and tight end Kyle Witucki (Tarentum,
PA/Highlands) were named to the first team, while strong
safety Damion Malott (Akron, OH/Akron) earned a
spot on the second team. Players selected to the first team go on
to the national ballot for All-American consideration.
Stroup, a 6’1”, 213 lb. senior, was
previously named the PSAC West Defensive Player of the Year, and
he was the leading vote-getter at linebacker on the Daktronics
team. He spearheaded an Edinboro defense which ranked first in the
PSAC in rushing defense and total defense, and third in scoring
defense, along with ranking sixth in Division II in rushing
defense, 24th in scoring defense and 26th in total defense. He led
the Fighting Scots with 105 tackles, the most since 1996. He also
paced the team in tackles for losses (17.5), sacks (5.5), and
passes broken up (7), while intercepting two passes and forcing a
pair of fumbles.
Stroup had a career-high 19 tackles against
California(Pa.), and had 14 tackles with a pair of sacks vs.
Bloomsburg. He led the PSAC in tackles and ranked 18th in Division
II, along with being ranked fourth in the league and 22nd
nationally in tackles for losses. He was also a Daktronics
All-Northeast Region and All-PSAC-West first team selection a year
ago, when Edinboro’s defense led Division II in scoring
defense, rushing defense and total defense.
Witucki landed on the team in his first year as
a starter, and also earned first team All-PSAC West accolades.
After catching 22 passes for 6 TDs in his first two seasons, the 6’3”,
237 lb. junior hauled in 31 passes for 455 yards with 5 TDs. He is
already tied for eighth in career touchdown receptions with 11.
Witucki caught at least one pass in all but one game, with two
touchdown receptions vs. Shippensburg. He had a career-best 5
catches for 80 yards and a touchdown against St. Anselm.
Malott moved from free safety to strong safety
this season, and had a big year. The 5’10”, 181 lb.
senior finished as the fourth-leading tackler with 62 stops,
adding 3 tackles for losses and a sack. He tied for the team lead
with 4 interceptions, returning one 41 yards for a touchdown
against Shippensburg. He ranks fourth in Division II in forced
fumbles (5), recovering a pair of fumbles and breaking up four
passes. He played two seasons at Edinboro after transferring from
Hudson Valley Community College.
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