FCS National All-Stars 9/20/2010

All-purpose back Taiwan Jones of Eastern Washington, wide receiver Aaron Mellette of Elon, running back Frank Warren of Grambling, defensive end Sean Rutten of Idaho State and defensive back Torez Jones of Western Carolina have been selected as the College Sporting News All-Stars for the third week of NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision play.

Taiwan Jones, Eastern Washington, Junior, Running Back, 6-1, 200, Antioch, California

Jones piled up a career-high 221 yards rushings in Eastern Washington's 36-27 victory over Montana last Saturday in the inaugural game on EWU’s new red synthetic Sprinturf surface at Roos Field (formerly Woodward Field).

His total of 305 all-purpose yards was the second-most in his career (behind the 322 against Nevada on Sept. 2) and his ninth career performance of at least 200 yards. His 27 carries were also a career high by nine as EWU finished with 503 yards of total offense.

The previous career best for Jones was 190 against Sacramento State on Sept. 26, 2009. Jones scored on a 72-yard run in the second quarter and also had a 45-yard pass reception. He now has eight plays of at least 70 yards in his career, and 27 of at least 32 yards.

Perhaps the biggest run of the day for Jones was a 13-yard run during Eastern’s final scoring drive, including a brilliant spin move that got him the extra yards needed for an important first down. It was on a third-and-10 play, and was just the second third down conversion of the day in 14 attempts for the Eagles-- including a string of nine-straight misses to start the game. Jones accounted for 35 of the 56 yards on that 12-play drive.

With an average of 287.3 all-purpose yards (rushing, receiving, returns) per game, the junior running back is the FCS leader. He also ranks fourth in rushing (151.7 per game) and 13th in scoring (10.0 per game with five total touchdowns).

Aaron Mellette, Elon, Sophomore, Wide Receiver, 6-3, 211, Sanford, North Carolina

Aaron Mellette set a new Elon record with 18 receptions, surpassing the mark of 16 catches set by three-time All-American Terrell Hudgins on three separate occasions in Saturday's 27-21 loss at Richmond.

Mellette had a career day for the second consecutive outing. The sophomore finished the day with 195 yards receiving and two touchdowns. The Phoenix record of 18 receptions are tied for the second-most in Southern Conference history with Chattanooga’s Alonzo Nix (versus Wofford on Oct. 4, 2003) and just two shy of the SoCon record of 20 held by Richmond’s Walker Gillette (versus Ohio on Dec. 27, 1968).

Quarterback Scott Riddle recorded the 18th 300-yard passing effort of his career, throwing for 319 yards on 34 completions. His 55 passing attempts were a career-high in helping Mellette establish the new mark.

Frank Warren, Grambling, Senior, Running Back, 5-9, 200, Pleasant Grove, Alabama

Warren carried 16 times for 256 yards and two touchdowns to help Grambling stop Jackson State, 28-21 on Saturday night.

Warren scored on a 52-yard run with 5:33 left in the third quarter, his second touchdown of the game, to give Grambling a 21-14 lead in the Southwestern Athletic Conference opener for the two longtime rivals. He has already rushed for 337 yards in two games.

The 256-yard effort on the ground is the best rushing performance in the FCS thus far this season. Warren had one kickoff return for 33 yards and a single pass reception for four yards to finish with 293 all-purpose yards.

Sean Rutten, Idaho State, Senior, Defensive End, 6-3, 226, Pocatello, Idaho

Sean Rutten led a defensive effort that limited Northern Colorado to 322 yards in Idaho State's 35-21 loss to the Bears as the two teams opened their Big Sky Conference schedules.

Rutten recorded four quarterback sacks, his first sacks of the year, among his 11 tackles. His four tackles for loss accounted for 37 yards in losses for the Bengals' defense.

Rutten, who only had two career sacks before Saturday, neared the school one-game record of 5.5 sacks by Josh Hays set in a 1994 game vs. Boise State. He had six solo stops and five assists.

Torez Jones Western Carolina, Junior, Defensive back, 6-0, 175, Wilson, North Carolina

Jones recorded a career-high 12 solo tackles and a school-record four interceptions in Western Carolina’s 28-14 upset win at Gardner-Webb.

He tied the Southern Conference single-game interceptions record, last accomplished by Davidson’s Charlie Benson against VMI on October 12, 1957. Jones had one sack that resulted in a 10-yard loss.

Jones gained two yards on the four interceptions. He had never had an interception in 14 previous college games.