ECU's Rimpf, Preston Earn All-America Honorable Mention
December 10, 2002 | Football
Rimpf, a two-time first team All-Conference USA selection, was one of eight C-USA players named by CNN/Sports Illustrated. Preston, who finished his two-year ECU career with the school's all-time punting average record, was honored by CollegeFootballNews.com.
Rimpf, a native of Raleigh, N.C., has started 25 straight games at offensive tackle for the Pirates and has helped paved the way for two straight 1,000-yard rushers (Leonard Henry in 2001 and Art Brown this past season). He was on the official watch lists for the 2002 Outland Trophy and Rotary Lombardi Award and was listed as the 17th-best offensive tackle in th nation by The Sporting News prior to this past season.
Off the field, he was honored this season as one of 11 players in NCAA Division I-A named to the 2002 AFCA Good Works Team in recognition of outstanding community service and civic involvement. He was also recently selected as a second team Verizon Academic All-District III selection.
Also being honored from C-USA on the CNN/SI list were defensive backs Lynaris Elpheage of Tulane and Etric Pruitt of Southern Miss, both of whom were second team All-America picks. Joining Rimpf in earning honorable mention status were Houston running back Joffrey Reynolds, Southern Miss linebacker Rod Davis, TCU linebacker LaMarcus McDonald, TCU kicker Nick Browne, and Louisville kick returner Broderick Clark.
Preston, from Tucson, Ariz., completed his two-year career at ECU as one of the Pirates' best-ever punters after transferring from Eastern Arizona Junior College prior to the 2001 season. He finished with a career punting average of 43.7 yards, surpassing the old record of 43.5, set by Andrew Bayes (1996-99). After averaging 44.1 yards in 2001, he completed this past season with a 43.4-yard average and is currently ranked eighth in the nation. He is a 2002 first team All-Conference USA pick.
A total of 10 C-USA players were honored by CollegeFootballNews.com. USM's Davis and TCU's McDonald were both first team selections. Tulane's Elpheage, USM's Pruitt, and Louisville's Clark were second team picks. TCU's Browne and kick returner LaTarence Dunbar, Army punt returner Arix Comeaux, and Louisville punt returner Damien Dorsey all earned honorable mention.
