Spada collects more All-American honors

Southeast Missouri State junior punter Doug Spada was named a first-team All-American by the American Football Coaches Association on Thursday.

Spada, who averaged 44.7 yards a punt to rank third in the Football Championship Subdivision, had earned third-team AP All-American honors Wednesday.

For the second consecutive season, Spada achieved All-American status after being named an honorable mention All-American by The Sports Network in 2007.

He is the third player at Southeast to earn All-American honors in multiple years, joining punter David Simonhoff (2004 to 2006) and tight end Ray Goodson (2003 and 2004).

"Last year I was really surprised [to be named an All-American]," Spada said in a news release. "I thought I had a better year this year."

Spada had a season-best 65-yard punt at Indiana State and placed 12 punts inside the opponent's 20-yard line during the 2008 season.

-- From staff reports