ELON, NC – Elon University’s Josh Rowan (Gainesville, GA/West Hall HS) has been named an honorable mention selection on Don Hansen’s National Weekly Football Gazette NCAA-IAA All-America squad. Rowan became eligible for such recognition after being selected to the First Team All-Southeast Region earlier this month.

Rowan, a 6-1, 260-pound senior offensive lineman, also earned First Team All-Big South Conference and Dopke.com Big South Conference Performer of the Year honors last month. He registered an 82-percent season grade with 19 linebacker knockdowns, 13 pancake blocks, 31 decleaters and only one sack allowed for the 2002 campaign. He led the Phoenix in the weight room with team-best performances in the bench press (425 pounds), the squat (735) and the power clean (355).

Rowan helped the Phoenix to finish first in the Big South Conference and 15th in NCAA-IAA in rushing offense with 223.1 yards per game last season. Entering the campaign, the second-year team co-captain was named an honorable mention preseason All-American by The Sports Network, a third team preseason All-American by Football Gazette and a National Strength and Conditioning Association All-American. He was ranked the sixth-best NCAA-IAA offensive tackle in the country by The Sports Network last summer.

The two-time Football Gazette National Offensive Lineman of the Week is also a stellar performer in the classroom. Rowan has collected Verizon Second Team Academic All-District, Academic All-Big South Conference and Division I-AA Athletics Directors Association Academic All-Star accolades for 2002.

--ELON--