KINGSVILLE, TEXAS – Four Texas A&M-Kingsville football players were selected to the 2008 All-Super Region Four Team selected by Don Hansen’s Football Gazette.  The Javelina representatives to the team were seniors Jabir Perkins and Jareko Taylor and juniors Cody Smith and Markeith Wesley.

This marks the seventh year Football Gazette has selected NCAA Division II All-Region teams. The national publication, an authority on small college football, has selected NCAA Division II All-America teams since 1988.  The first-team and second-team All-Region selections advance to a national ballot from which the 2008 NCAA Division II Football Gazette All-America team will be named later this month.

Perkins, a senior safety from Dallas, earned Second Team All-Region honors after a stellar season.  He joined the Javelinas this year after playing three years at Southeastern Oklahoma State.  He was a dynamic performer on defense and in special teams.  He finished second on the team in tackles with 61.  He made five tackles for loss, recorded one quarterback sack, led the team with five interceptions, recovered two fumbles and forced another.  He had 105 interception return yards on the season and scored a touchdown on a fumble recovery.  As a kick returner, he set the school record with a 36.6 yard average that included two touchdowns.

In addition to his Football Gazette honor, Perkins has received a number of other honors this season including; Third Team AP Little All-America, Second Team Daktronics All-America, First Team Lone Star Conference South Division safety, LSC South Division Defensive Back of the Year, Honorable Mention LSC South Kick Returner, two-time LSC South Special Teams Player of the Week and one-time LSC South Defensive Player of the Week.

Smith, a punter from Kingwood, was the other Javelina to earn Second Team All-Region honors.  He finished fifth in the nation and second in the Lone Star Conference with a 43.0-yard punting average.  He had 12 of his 44 punts end up inside the 20-yard line and had 11 punts of at least 50 yards on the season.  Previously, he has earned Second Team Daktronics All-Region, First Team LSC South Division and LSC South Special Teams Player of the Week honors.

Taylor, a wide receiver from Detroit, MI, had one of the most prolific pass receiving seasons in school history en route to earning Third Team All-Region honors.  He set a school record with 66 catches on the season to go along with 1,090 yards and nine touchdowns.  He eclipsed 100 yards on six separate occasions.  He finished the season tied for 29th in the nation in receptions per game (6.00) and was ninth in the nation in receiving yards per game (99.09).  He earned First Team LSC South Division honors this season.

Wesley, a left guard from Navasota, also earned Third Team All-Region honors.  He was the anchor on an offensive line that paved the way for an offense that gained 429 yards per game, 23rd in the nation.  The passing offense was 12th in the nation with 298 yards per game.  He earned First Team LSC South Division honors this season.
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