PLANO, Texas - Jacksonville State All-American punter Richie Rhodes and defensive back Haneef Haaq were named to the 2002 Southland Conference All-Academic Football team, the league office announced today.

The Southland all-academic teams, voted on by the head coaches, sports information directors and academic/compliance administrators, honor those student-athletes who earned at least a 3.00 grade point average while serving as a starter or important reserve with legitimate athletic credentials. Student-athletes must have reached sophomore athletic and academic standing within the institution and must have completed one full academic year at the nominating institution.

Haaq, a sophomore with a 3.60 GPA, is a native of Huntsville. Rhodes, a sophomore from Alexander City, finished the fall with a 3.20 GPA and also earned first-team All-SLC honors as a punter just last month.

2002 Southland Conference All-Academic Team

Offense
POS NAME UNIVERSITY Cl. HOMETOWN GPA, MAJOR
QB Josh Son Nicholls State Jr. Baton Rouge, La. 3.22, Health and Physical Education
RB Marcus Trahan McNeese State Sr. Sulphur, La. 3.39, Health and Human Performance
RB Phillip Thomas Nicholls State Jr. Baton Rouge, La. 3.00, Business Administration
FB Darren Oustalet McNeese State Sr. Long Beach, Miss. 3.32, Marketing
WR Beau Robertson Southwest Texas So. Buda, Texas 3.53, Wildlife Biology
WR Devin Freeman Southwest Texas So. Tyler, Texas 3.50, Exercise and Sports Science
TE Jason Carr Sam Houston State Sr. Sealy, Texas 3.00, Criminal Justice
OL Kenyardia Johnson Nicholls State Sr. Grenada, Miss. 3.27, Mass Communications
OL Billy Williams Sam Houston State Sr. Marshall, Texas 3.20, Accounting/Finance
OL David Phillips Stephen F. Austin Jr. Kemp, Texas 3.20, Chemistry
OL Ryan Thibodaux Nicholls State Sr. Napoleonville, La. 3.54, Government
OL Luke Goode Stephen F. Austin So. Palestine, Texas 3.44, Finance
K Justin Martinez Southwest Texas Sr. Arlington, Texas 3.49, Finance

Defense
POS NAME UNIVERSITY Cl. HOMETOWN GPA, MAJOR
DL Michael Saumell-Baston Sam Houston State Jr. Conroe, Texas 3.39, Accounting
DL Troy Phillips Sam Houston State Jr. Coldspring, Texas 3.00, Criminal Justice
DL Michael Swansey McNeese State So. Freeport, Texas 3.26, Engineering
LB Roy Farias McNeese State Jr. Orangefield, Texas 3.02, Health and Human Performance
LB Lester Magee Nicholls State Sr. Collins, Miss. 3.19, Manufacturing Technology
DB Josh Burton Northwestern State So. Bossier City, La. 3.42, Health and Exercise Science
DB Haneef Haaq Jacksonville State So. Huntsville, Ala. 3.60, Undeclared
DB Neil Ponstein Northwestern State Jr. Chalmette, La. 3.31, Business Administration
DB Hadley Prince McNeese State Sr. Sulphur, La. 3.61, Agriculture Science
P Richie Rhodes Jacksonville State So. Alexander City, Ala. 3.25, Undeclared
RS David Plaisance Nicholls State So. Baton Rouge, La. 3.20, General Studies