July 30, 2012
NORFOLK, Va. -- Punter Jonathan Plisco (Newport News, Va.) was a First Team Preseason All-American selection and defensive tackle Chris Burnette a Third Team Preseason All-American pick it was announced today by College Sporting News.
Plisco has already been named among the Top 10 Special Teams Players to Watch this Fall and a Preseason All-American by The Sports Network in addition to his nine All-America honors during his three-year career thus far with Old Dominion. A Preseason All-CAA honoree, Plisco led the CAA and ranked second in the nation in punting averaging 46.2 yards per punt. Of his 51 punts last year, 20 went the distance of 50 yards or more and 12 were placed inside the opponent 20.
A Preseason All-CAA recipient and a Third Team All-CAA selection a year ago, Burnette totaled 49 tackles (20 solo, 29 assisted), was among ODU's leaders in sacks, and third on the Monarch squad in tackles for loss. Burnette had a career-high eight stops in the inaugural CAA game in week four with #6/7 Delaware and also made five stops in week one against Campbell and week seven against CAA Champion #17/23 Towson. On special teams, he helped ODU rank number one in the nation in blocks with three and has totaled five blocked kicks in his career including a 37-yard field goal attempt by Norfolk State in the first round of the FCS Playoffs, a 35-yard field goal attempt by William & Mary in week ten and a 37-yard field goal attempt at #6/7 Delaware in week four.
The Football Monarchs report to camp on Sunday, August 5th and open up preseason camp on Monday, August 6th.
Click here to view CSN's Preseason All-America Teams.