WILLIAMSBURG, Va. (Dec. 18, 2013)—After posting outstanding seasons and leading the William and Mary football team to one of the best turnarounds in school history, senior free safety Jerome Couplin III and senior offensive lineman Matt Crisafi have been selected as All-Americans by The Sports Network. Couplin garnered first-team distinction, while Crisafi was named to the second team.
One of the nation's top defensive players and a finalist for the Buchanan Award, Couplin was a first-team all-conference selection after leading the Colonial Athletic Association and ranking 10th nationally with 5.8 solo tackles per game. Additionally, the Upper Marlboro, Md., native ranked third in the CAA with 9.4 tackles per game – a figure that led the league among defensive backs. In addition to leading the team with 113 tackles (70 solo), the two-time All-CAA honoree recorded two forced fumbles, 2.5 tackles for a loss, six PBU's and two forced fumbles. The team captain also returned a fumble 51 yards for a touchdown in the win at Delaware en route to earning CAA Defensive Player of the Week honors.
A four-year starter and team captain, Crisafi established himself as one of the country's best offensive linemen this fall and garnered first-team All-CAA accolades. The Marietta, Ga., native anchored W&M's offensive line that helped sophomore running back Mikal Abdul-Saboor post six 100-yard rushing games and ranked fifth in the CAA in sacks allowed. A versatile lineman, Crisafi started a team-high 41 consecutive games at center, left guard and left tackle during the past four years. He also distinguished himself in the classroom and earned Academic All-Conference Team honors during each of the past three seasons.
Couplin's and Crisafi's selections mark the seventh consecutive season that at least one Tribe player has garnered All-America honors from The Sports Network, as Drew Atchison (2007), Adrian Tracy (2008, 2009), Jonathan Grimes (2008, 2011), Sean Lissemore (2009), Alex Gottlieb (2010), Keith Hill, Jr. (2010), David Miller (2010) and B.W. Webb (2012) all recently earned the distinction.
