Dec. 12, 2001

BROCKPORT, N.Y. - Samford University football players Aryvia Holmes, Robert Evans and Derrick Wheeler were named to the First Team of the 2001 NCAA Division I-AA Independent All-Star Team on Wednesday.

Along with the trio, senior safety Jonathan Clark earned membership to the second team defense.

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.

Evans, a first-team junior defensive back from Vestavia Hills, Ala., finished second on the team in stops with 91. Always around the ball, he recorded double digit stops in five of the Bulldogs' 10 games, caused three fumbles and had two interceptions. Evans is a two-year starter who has 168 career tackles along with seven interceptions for the Bulldogs.

Senior free safety Jonathan Clark (Carbon Hill, Ala.) was a defensive leader who finished the 2001 season with 85 tackles, two interceptions and two fumble recoveries. Clark ranked 19th in the NCAA I-AA defensive rankings in solo tackles with 52 and recorded double digit tackles three times of 14, 15 and 17. A big-play man in the Samford secondary, Clark returned a fumble 54 yards for a score and he has led the secondary in tackles and finished in top five of team stops for the last two years.