HIGHTOWER, SHERRY AND MULLIGAN SET TO PLAY IN TEXAS VS THE NATION GAME
RICHMOND, Va. (Feb. 1, 2008) -- CAA Football will be well represented in the final College Football All-Star game Saturday, Feb. 2, when Richmond’s Tim Hightower, Villanova’s Matt Sherry and Maine’s Matt Mulligan take part in the Texas vs. The Nation All-Star Game. Hightower and Sherry, both First Team All-CAA Football selections in 2007, will be part of the game’s Nation roster while Mulligan was a last-minute addition to the Texas squad. The contest is slated to kickoff at 5 p.m. (Eastern) and will be shown live from El Paso, Texas, on CSTV.
Hightower will be joined by fellow running backs Louis Rankin of Washington, Rodney Kinlaw of Penn State and Allen Ervin of Lambuth University. Sherry is one of two tight ends on the Nation roster and will be joined by Colorado’s Tyson DeVree. Mulligan is one of several tight ends listed on the most recent Texas roster including Jake Sears of UTEP and Kolo Kapanui of West Texas A&M. Both Hightower and Sherry will be coached by former NFL head coach Buddy Ryan, while Mulligan will work under former NFL and Alabama head coach Gene Stallings.
Hightower put the finishing touches on a remarkable career by finishing sixth in the NCAA in rushing (137.4 yards/game) and breaking 12 Richmond records in 2007. Among the records Hightower etched his name by the single-season and career rushing marks, the single-season and career scoring records and the single-game rushing record. All of the records vaulted the senior to a total of four All-America honors -- Associated Press, Walter Camp, College Sporting News, Sports Network.
Sherry helped Villanova to a mark of 7-4, 5-3 in league play, in 2007. The senior ranked among the top tight ends in CAA Football finishing the season with a team-high 37 receptions for a team-best 461 yards and five touchdowns. His receiving numbers and his first-ever All-Conference honor in 2007 also helped him earn Honorable Mention All-America honors from the Sports Network.
Mulligan was part of a young offensive unit for the Black Bears in 2007. The West Enfield, Maine, native ranked third on the squad hauling in 13 catches for 157 yards and two touchdowns. Only wide receiver Landis Williams caught more touchdown passes last season for the Black Bears who ended the year with a 4-7 overall mark.
A total of six CAA Football student-athletes will have played in four College Football All-Star games at the end of the weekend. In addition to Hightower, Sherry and Mulligan in this weekend’s game, New Hampshire’s Ricky Santos played in the Hula Bowl, and finished the game 10-of-16 passing for 169 yards helping his East squad to a 38-7 win in Honolulu, Hawaii. William and Mary’s Drew Atchison took part in the East West Shrine Game and hauled in one pass for the East squad. Most recently, Delaware’s Joe Flacco played for the North squad in the 2008 Senior Bowl, going 2-for-7 for a total 22 yards passing.