3 Redbirds named to FCS All-American team

Posted on December 24, 2014

Marshaun Coprich has rushed for 2,168 yards and 27 touchdowns for the Redbirds this season. (Photo courtesy GoRedbirds.com)

By WJBC Staff

PHILADELPHIA – Illinois State senior longsnapper Chris Highland, running back Marshaun Coprich and offensive tackle Jermaine Barton each played large parts in helping the Redbirds advance to the 2015 NCAA Division I Football Championship Game, and each were honored Tuesday by The Sports Network as All-Americans.

Highland and Coprich were named to the first team, while Barton earned third-team honors in the annual list of the best players in FCS football. The Missouri Valley Football conference led all conferences with a total of 18 selections and secured the most first-team selections with six overall, two of which went to the Redbirds.

The First-Team All-America honor is the first for Highland, who was a preseason All-American selection and was as steady as they come throughout the regular season and playoffs for the Redbirds. The Normal native has served as ISU's primary long and short snapper for the past three seasons and has not been credited with a bad snap during that time. A 2013 Second-Team FCS All-America Team selection by The Sports Network, Highland has been credited with three tackles on coverage teams in 2014.

With his honor from The Sports Network, Coprich increased his All-America honors to three after previously being named a first-team selection by The Associated Press and to the 2014 Walter Camp Football FCS All-America team. The 2014 Missouri Valley Football Conference Offensive Player of the Year is the first Redbird in school history to rush for over 2,000 yards in a season, upping his season total to 2,168 yards with his performance last weekend in the FCS semifinal win at New Hampshire. Coprich also holds the ISU single-season rushing touchdowns mark with 27 and in addition to his re-writing of the school record books, Coprich has put his name in the national spotlight and currently ranks No. 1 in the FCS in rushing yards and rushing touchdowns.

A 2014 All-Missouri Valley Football Conference First-Team selection and a third-team all-America selection by The Associated Press, Barton has started all 14 games for the Redbirds at right tackle and is a three-year starter on the offensive line. The Fort Lauderdale, Florida, native was a key member of the offensive line unit that led the way for Coprich and topped the conference in scoring (39.1 points per game), rushing offense (239.4 yards per game), and total offense (466.4 yards per game). 

The fifth-seeded Redbirds have advanced to the 2015 NCAA Division I Football Championship Game against three-time defending national champion North Dakota State, in a matchup between the co-champions of the Missouri Valley Football Conference in 2014.  The game will be played on Jan. 10, 2015, at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas.

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