PITTSBURGH - Four Tennessee State Tigers; running back Trabis Ward, tight end A.C. Leonard, center Sherman Carter and defensive back Steven Godbolt III,  have been named to the 2012 SBN Sports Black College All-American (BCAA) Team. The quartet are a part of a 25-man team that will be honored at the 39th Annual BCAA Awards Brunch and during the Black College Hall of Fame Enshrinement taking place February 16 at the Loews Hotel in Atlanta.

No FCS back carried the ball more than Ward, who had 309 carries for 1,422 yards (8th nationally), 1,670 all purpose yards and 15 touchdowns in leading TSU to an 8-3 mark. The 1,422 rushing yards are the third-most in TSU history in a single season.

Leonard, in his first season with TSU after transferring from Florida, was the tight end selection after catching 51 passes for 733 yards and six touchdowns. The 733 yards were the most by a tight end at the FCS level this year and was the fourth most throughout all four divisions (FBS, FCS, D-II and D-III) of college football.

Senior Sherman Carter anchored a TSU offensive line that led the OVC in rushing at 175.7 yards per game. Carter was also named to the All-OVC First Team after being selected to the second team as a junior.

Steven Godbolt picked off six passes in 10 games to rank second nationally in interceptions per game (0.60). He had two separate streaks during the 2012 season of three consecutive games with an interception.

During the 2012 season TSU went 8-3, the most wins in an 11 game schedule since 2001. The Tigers placed fifth in the OVC with a 4-3 record and were ranked as high as 17th in The Sports Network FCS Poll.

The SBN Black College All-American Awards (BCAA) recognizes and celebrates the academic and athletic achievements of student athletes who play football at America's Historically Black Colleges and Universities.

American Urban Radio Networks (AURN) is the only African-American owned radio network company in the United States.  It is the largest network reaching Urban America with nearly 20 million listeners each week.  Through four programming networks and its marketing division, American Urban Radio Networks reaches more African-Americans than any other medium in America and produces more programming than all other broadcasting companies combined.  American Urban Radio Networks broadcasts 200 weekly news, entertainment, sports and information programs to more than 300 radio stations nationwide.  It is the only African-American broadcaster with a bureau in the White House.  AURN has offices and bureaus in New York, Pittsburgh, Atlanta, Chicago, Detroit, Los Angeles and Washington, D.C.

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