Shaun Sampson: All-America!
Photo by: Kelly Gorham
Sampson Earns Just Reward, Named to All-America Team
1/31/2013 1:58:00 PM | Football
Former walk-on Bobcat center becomes Fourth Cat named 2012 All-America
The journey was long for Shaun Sampson, but the reward was great.
A former walk-on who became a three-year starting center for the Montana State football team earned a high honor Wednesday, when Phil Steele's College Football Magazine named the Bobcat star All-America. Sampson joins a highly-decorated trio of Bobcats as MSU All-Americas for the 2012 season.
Sampson was named a fourth team offensive lineman on the Phil Steele squad. A pair of consensus All-Americas – defensive end Caleb Schreibeis and linebacker Jody Owens – earned first team honors, while quarterback DeNarius McGhee landed on the second team. Each of those three had previously been named to All-America teams during this off-season.
But Sampson's inclusion on Phil Steele's list makes him a first-time honoree, and Bobcat offensive line coach Jason McEndoo couldn't be happier. “Shaun Sampson is one of the humblest and hardest working players I've ever coached at Montana State,” McEndoo said. “He is very deserving of all the post-season awards he has received. His work ethic and leadership will be missed.”
A former star offensive lineman at Helena Capital and First Team All-Big Sky selection in 2012, Sampson becomes the fourth Bobcat All-America this year and the eighth MSU offensive lineman to so honored during Jason McEndoo's decade as the school's offensive line coach. He becomes the 19th offensive lineman and the fourth center in school history honored as an All-America.
Montana State head coach Rob Ash says Sampson's story exemplifies the beauty of Treasure State football. “Our program is built on players like Shaun,” Ash said, “and I'm very happy for him. He is a typical Montana kid, and a typical Bobcat, in that he works extremely hard, and he plays for the team rather than himself.”
Ash said that Sampson's value to the Bobcats during his senior season was immeasurable. “Shaun basically had two new players on either side of him, and we added the responsibility of making all the line calls, and he responded brilliantly,” Ash said. “He was a leader on and off the field, and he's a great example of what our program stands for.”
While the Phil Steele honor makes Sampson a first time All-America, it adds to lengthy lists of awards for the other Bobcats named. Junior quarterback DeNarius McGhee was also a First Team All-Big Sky choice and an American Football Coaches Association First Team All-America. Owens and Schreibeis are each consensus All-Americas, with Owens earning Big Sky Defensive MVP honors and Schreibeis landing the Buck Buchanan Award as the top defensive player in the FCS.
A former walk-on who became a three-year starting center for the Montana State football team earned a high honor Wednesday, when Phil Steele's College Football Magazine named the Bobcat star All-America. Sampson joins a highly-decorated trio of Bobcats as MSU All-Americas for the 2012 season.
Sampson was named a fourth team offensive lineman on the Phil Steele squad. A pair of consensus All-Americas – defensive end Caleb Schreibeis and linebacker Jody Owens – earned first team honors, while quarterback DeNarius McGhee landed on the second team. Each of those three had previously been named to All-America teams during this off-season.
But Sampson's inclusion on Phil Steele's list makes him a first-time honoree, and Bobcat offensive line coach Jason McEndoo couldn't be happier. “Shaun Sampson is one of the humblest and hardest working players I've ever coached at Montana State,” McEndoo said. “He is very deserving of all the post-season awards he has received. His work ethic and leadership will be missed.”
A former star offensive lineman at Helena Capital and First Team All-Big Sky selection in 2012, Sampson becomes the fourth Bobcat All-America this year and the eighth MSU offensive lineman to so honored during Jason McEndoo's decade as the school's offensive line coach. He becomes the 19th offensive lineman and the fourth center in school history honored as an All-America.
Montana State head coach Rob Ash says Sampson's story exemplifies the beauty of Treasure State football. “Our program is built on players like Shaun,” Ash said, “and I'm very happy for him. He is a typical Montana kid, and a typical Bobcat, in that he works extremely hard, and he plays for the team rather than himself.”
Ash said that Sampson's value to the Bobcats during his senior season was immeasurable. “Shaun basically had two new players on either side of him, and we added the responsibility of making all the line calls, and he responded brilliantly,” Ash said. “He was a leader on and off the field, and he's a great example of what our program stands for.”
While the Phil Steele honor makes Sampson a first time All-America, it adds to lengthy lists of awards for the other Bobcats named. Junior quarterback DeNarius McGhee was also a First Team All-Big Sky choice and an American Football Coaches Association First Team All-America. Owens and Schreibeis are each consensus All-Americas, with Owens earning Big Sky Defensive MVP honors and Schreibeis landing the Buck Buchanan Award as the top defensive player in the FCS.
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