NEWPORT NEWS, Va. - Senior defensive lineman
Ben James joined an elite group of Christopher Newport football standouts Friday evening when he was named All-American by D3football.com. James, from Virginia Beach, wore uniform #10 as a Captain and became just the tenth different football All-American in the 19-year history of the program. He was a third team selection.
James has earned an extensive list of accomplishments and completed his illustrious career by being named the Co-Defensive Player of the Year in the New Jersey Athletic Conference this fall. He was also selected the Defensive Lineman of the Year in Virginia for the second straight year by the Touchdown Club of Richmond. The Kellam High School graduate posted 59 tackles and recorded 5.5 sacks for the Captains this season. He made 35 solo stops and registered 14.5 tackles for lost yardage during his outstanding senior season, and concluded his career with 15 sacks.
In addition to being first team All-Conference, James was also selected first team All-Region in the East, and just Thursday was chosen first team All-State by the Virginia Sports Information Directors (VaSID).
His amazing play on the field has been accompanied by outstanding work in the classroom. James was selected to the 2019 Academic All-America® Division III football team, as chosen by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA). James is a Psychology major at Christopher Newport with a 3.82 GPA, and was named second team Academic All-America.
This marks the 12th All-American award won by a Captains football player and the first since 2017 when defensive back Justus Drakeford received honorable mention All-America status.
Former Captains Rob Rodriguez (2006) and Tunde Ogun (2008) were named first team All-America by both D3football.com and the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA). Tommy Fitzgerald was CNU's first All-American in 2004, selected first team by the AFCA. Justin Wood (2005), Roland Hilliard (2006), Matt Boykin (2006), Larry Broach (2006), and Kentel Noel (2010) also received the high honor.
The announcement of All-Americans was made in conjunction with the Division III National Championship game, the Stagg Bowl, played in Shenandoah, Texas, Friday evening and won by North Central over Wisconsin-Whitewater, 41-14. Christopher Newport opened the 2019 season at home against North Central, and James sacked Cardinals quarterback Broc Rutter twice at TowneBank Stadium. Rutter was named the Gagliardi Trophy winner Friday as the nation's top Division III college football player before leading his squad to the national title.
Christopher Newport is expected to open the 2020 season, the 20th in Captains Football history, at the defending National Champions, North Central, in Naperville, Illinois, in September.
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