Two Southeast players earn national honors

A pair of Southeast Missouri State University football players who put together sensational seasons have been honored nationally.

Senior running back Curtis Cooper and junior wide receiver Willie Ponder have both been given NCAA Division I-AA honorable mention All-Americans by Don Hansen's Football Gazette.

Cooper made the list as both a running back and return specialist. The senior from Toledo, Ohio, became the third player in Southeast history to rush for over 1,000 yards in a season. He had 1,198 rushing yards to rank second on the all-time single-season list at Southeast.

Cooper led the Ohio Valley Conference and ranked sixth nationally in all-purpose running with 193.4 yards a game. He also led the OVC and ranked 19th nationally in punt returns with 15.4 yards a return.

Ponder, a junior from Tulsa, Okla., who was in his first season with the Indians, became only the second player in Southeast history to have over 1,000 receiving yards in a season. He caught 70 passes for 1,090 yards. Ponder set the school record for touchdown receptions in a season with 11 and tied the school mark for touchdown receptions in a game with three against Southwest Missouri.

McDowell has surgery, will miss spring practice

Southeast quarterback Jeromy McDowell underwent shoulder surgery earlier this month and will miss spring practice.

McDowell, a redshirt freshman, became just the third player at Southeast to pass for more than 2,000 yards in a season. He established a Southeast freshman record with 2,051 passing yards.

The surgery on his throwing shoulder tightened ligaments and cleaned up scar tissue.

McDowell is expected to be ready for the start of fall drills.

Grossman staying; others going to NFL

GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- Rex Grossman is staying at Florida, but seven other All-Americans are leaving school early for the NFL.

On the final day underclassmen can declare for the NFL draft, Grossman decided Friday to play quarterback for the Gators next season under new coach Ron Zook.

The All-American who finished second in the Heisman Trophy voting considered leaving early after coach Steve Spurrier suddenly resigned last week.

"It's the hardest decision I've had to make in my entire life," Grossman said. "It was going to be a big decision either way. But I'm glad I'm coming back."

Also Friday, Alabama linebacker Saleem Rasheed said he's leaving after leading the Crimson Tide with 115 tackles last season. Rasheed is projected as a second-round pick.

In addition to Gaffney and Pearson, the other All-Americans leaving early are BYU running back Luke Staley, LSU wide receiver Josh Reed, Nebraska guard Toniu Fonoti, North Carolina defensive end Julius Peppers and Oklahoma cornerback Roy Williams.

-- Staff, wire reports