Cass named Division-II All-American

As a sophomore, Kamal Cass developed into one of the most explosive weapons for the Eastern New Mexico University football team.

Now, the running back is recognized that way nationwide.

Cass, who led the Lone Star Conference with 1,514 rushing yards and set a school record with 22 touchdowns, was named a first-team Division II All-American by the Don Hansen Football Committee.

He was joined on the team by senior offensive guard Cody Jurek, an honorable mention.

The 2013 Clovis High graduate is the third Greyhounds running back in as many years to gain All-American status, joining E’Lon Spight in 2014 and Christian Long in 2013. He’s the first sophomore Greyhound to receive All-American status since 2009, when quarterback J.J. Harp garnered third-team recognition for running the team’s spread offense.

link Staff photo: Kevin Wilson

Eastern New Mexico University sophomore and Clovis High grad Kamal Cass, was named a Division-II All-American. Cass finished first in the LSC and sixth in NCAA Division II in rushing yards.

Coach Josh Lynn said the program has done well with All-Americans over the last 10 years, and Cass has continued that tradition.

“For a sophomore to get it, that’s wonderful,” Lynn said. “There’s not a better person than Kamal Cass,and not a harder worker. He’s a good product of what we do offensively.”

Cass was sixth in Division II in rushing yards, 15th in yards per carry at 7.1 and fourth in rushing touchdowns. He scored in all but two of ENMU’s 12 games and had multiple touchdowns in seven contests.

He is one of just two sophomores on first-team offense, along with Humboldt State running back Ja’Quan Gardner, and one of nine sophomores on the 95 players named to the first, second or third teams.

Jurek, whose blocking helped the Greyhounds post the No. 3 rushing offense and the No. 13 scoring offense in Division II, was one of 75 players who received honorable mention.

“He was the very first offenisve lineman we signed when our staff got here,” Lynn said. “He started every single game for four years, just got better and better and grew himself into an All-American.”

Jason Vander Laan of Ferris State, who won his second-straight Harlon Hill Trophy this year, was named the offensive player of the year. Grand Valley State’s Matt Judon was named the top linebacker and Northwest Missouri kicker Simon Mathieson was the special teams player of the year.

The Lone Star Conference had 14 total selections — three each for Angelo State, Midwestern State and West Texas A&M, two by ENMU and Texas A&M-Commerce and one by Tarleton State.

National champion Northwest Missouri State led the way with nine selections, while runnerup Shepherd and semifinalist Grand Valley State each had six.