Shaw’s Quintez Smith
Leads East Coast Bowl in Tackles
Isaiah Thomas Turns In Strong Performance As Well
December 2, 2009
(Petersburg, VA) – Quintez Smith, star cornerback for Shaw University and the CIAA’s Defensive Player of the Year, put on a defensive display in Saturday’s East Coast Bowl, leading both All-Star teams in tackles with 13 (eight unassisted, five assists).
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| Thomas |
Shaw teammate Isaiah Thomas, a defensive lineman, also performed
well in the South’s 27-21 loss with one solo tackle and four
assists. The East Coast Bowl brings together outstanding players
from the Mid-Atlantic region at the NCAA Division I-FCS, Division
II and III, and NAIA levels to showcase their talents.
The performance is just another sterling game by Smith (Sr.,
Dublin, GA), who continues to compile postseason honors. He was
recently named to the Daktronics All-America First Team from NCAA
Super Region One, thus making him eligible for national honors.
Announcement of the national All-America team will be December
7.
During the 2009 season, Smith tied a Division II record, returning
four interceptions for touchdowns, and tied for first in D-II with
nine interceptions. He accumulated 302 return yards. He finished
the season with 49 tackles and also scored two touchdowns on fumble
returns.
Against Elizabeth City State in week one, Smith set a Division II
single game record with 194 interception return yards. He tied the
single game record of three interceptions returned for
touchdowns.
Smith was named CIAA Defensive Back of the Week three times this
season, and was named d2football.com’s National Defensive
Player of the Week once.
The cornerback will have another opportunity to showcase his
skills when he plays in the first HBCU Bowl – an all-star
game for HBCUs pitting players from the MEAC and CIAA against
players from the SWAC and SIAC December 19 in Montgomery, AL.
Thomas (Sr., Winston-Salem, NC) was named Second Team All-CIAA. On
the season, Thomas had 46 tackles (24 solo) and 13.5 tackles for a
loss of 42 yards. He had 1.5 sacks, forced one fumble and recovered
two.
Thomas anchored a defensive line that led Division II in pass
efficiency defense and tackles for a loss.
Shaw University finished the season 8-2 (5-2 in the CIAA).
