Nov. 13, 2007

NSIC All-Conference Release

The Northern Sun Conference has handed out their Football All-Conference Awards and four Peacocks have earned the honor. T.C. Hicks (SR / Immokalee, FL) was named to the First Team Offense as a Running Back. Dominique Jackson (SO / Riviera Beach, FL) was named to the Second Team Defense as a Cornerback.

Two Peacocks were named to the Honorable Mention Team. They were Jerad Jandrain (JR / De Pere, WI) as an Offensive Lineman and Dwayne Croker (SR / Immokalee, FL) as a Wide Receiver.

Hicks rewrote the record books this season as he became the program's new career leader in rushing with 3.212 yards in his four year career. The senior also finished with 25 career touchdowns which is good for fourth all-time in UIU's history. Hicks rushed for 1,370 yards and 9 touchdowns on 217 carries for a 6.3 yard per carry average. His long on the season was 76 yards as he averaged 124.5 yards per game. The Immokalee-native finished second in the Northern Sun Conference in rushing yards (1,094 in 9 NSIC games) and fourth in all-purpose yards/game (127.4). This marks the second time that Hicks has made the NSIC All-Conference First Team.

Jackson made his mark on the Peacock defense with 58 tackles (35 solo) and 5 interceptions with 181 return yards and one touchdown. Jackson's score came in Crookston, Minnesota when the sophomore picked off four Golden Eagle passes and returned one for a 100-yard touchdown. Jackson led the NSIC in interceptions thanks to his big day versus UM, Crookston.

Jandrain was the lone returner on the Peacock offensive line that made vast improvements this past season. The proof of Jandrain and the rest of the offensive line's effort can be found in the yardage that Hicks was able to accumulate. The junior anchored the line that created great running lanes for Hicks and great passing lanes for quarterbacks Jay Lehman and Kevin Linnell to throw through. The honor is Jandrain's second NSIC All-Conference Honorable Mention.

Croker finished his football career this season, but not without etching his name into the record books as well. Croker holds the records for receptions in a game (14 vs UW-Stout, 2006) and receiving yards in a season (1,023 yards, 2006). He is also second in receptions in a season (66, 2006). Croker caught 194 passes in his career and is now the record holder for career receptions in the program's history. He also accumulated 2,552 career receiving yards which ranks him 3rd all-time just 90 yards short of the record. This marks the second time that the Immokalee-native has been named to the NSIC All-Conference team after having been a first team selection last year.

Upper Iowa University finished the season with a 3-8 record overall and a 2-7 mark, tied for 8th, in their second season in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference.