July 2, 2002

Philadelphia, PA - Samford University's Aryvia Holmes and Derrick Wheeler were named as Honorable Mention selections to The Sports Network's 2002 Division I-AA Preseason All-America Team on Tuesday.

Holmes, a first-team junior wide receiver from Midfield, Ala., led the Bulldogs in receiving in 2001 with 74 receptions for 1,042 yards and eight touchdowns. Holmes set Samford single game (12 rec., 177 yds) and season records (74 rec., 1,042 yds) for receptions and yardage and ranked in the Top 20 nationally in receiving yards (11th), all-purpose yards (18th), receiving yards per game (11th) and receptions per game (5th). He averaged seven receptions for 104 yards per game in the Bulldogs' 10 games, and nine receptions for 133 yards per game in Samford's last five games. Additionally, he now stands fourth on Samford's career receiving list with 126 receptions for 1,797 yards with 10 touchdowns.

Wheeler, a first-team sophomore linebacker from Pelham, Ala., led the team in tackles in 2001 with 120, the most by a Bulldog since 1999. His 120 stops also ranked him 10th in NCAA I-AA football in total tackles. Wheeler recorded double digit tackles in six of the Bulldogs' ten games and posted team highs of 20 and 19 stops in single games. He recorded statistics in seven of the nine defensive categories throughout the season, including 10 tackles for losses, two sacks, an interception a fumble recovery, a caused fumble and a blocked kick. Wheeler has 149 career tackles.

The Ohio Valley Conference, in which Samford begins play in 2003, leads all I-AA leagues by placing 11 players on the team. Six players from 2001 OVC champ and playoff participant Eastern Illinois were among those selected. Other OVC representatives hailed from Tennessee State, Eastern Kentucky, Murray State and Tennessee Tech.