July 10, 2009

AMHERST, Mass. - UMass football seniors Vladimir Ducasse and Jeromy Miles have been named to the 2009 Preseason Sports Network FCS All-America Team, it was announced on Friday. Ducasse and Miles, who earned spots on the second team offense and defense, respectively, were among 20 honorees from the CAA.

An offensive lineman, Ducasse picks up his second preseason honor as he was recently named a preseason First-Team All-American by Consensus Draft Services. A first-team All-CAA pick in 2008, Ducasse also garnered an Honorable Mention All-America nod from the Sports Network this past January.

In his 24 career starts, UMass has had a 100-yard rusher in 16 of those contests. In his games, UMass has allowed just 22 sacks, less than one per game. Ducasse was the only lineman to start every game last season and each game at the same position (right tackle). He was part of an offensive line that allowed just six sacks, the fewest in the CAA (0.5 per game) and second in the NCAA. UMass allowed ZERO sacks in final five games of the season.

With Ducasse leading the way last fall, the offense had five games of more than 400 yards of total offense including season-best 593 yards vs. Bryant (10/25). He also led for Tony Nelson's six 100-yard games in 2008, including career-best 204 vs. Hofstra (11/22).

Miles was a Sports Network All-America Team second team and an All-CAA first team selection as a junior after pacing the Minutemen with 104 tackles to go with three interceptions and two fumble recoveries. He sealed a win at Northeastern on Oct. 11 with a late fumble recovery, only one week after clinching the victory over Delaware with a 52-yard interception return for a touchdown.

The safety was a preseason All-American by Draft Consensus and was also a Sporting News Honorable Mention All-American after his freshman year at Navy.

UMass will kick off its 2009 campaign on Sept. 5, at 7:10 p.m. in Manhattan, Kansas, against Kansas State.