Dec. 10, 2012
PHILADELPHIA, Pa. - Old Dominion sophomore quarterback Taylor Heinicke and senior defensive tackle Chris Burnette earned The Sports Network FCS All- America Team honors, the organization announced Monday.
Heinicke was named first-team quarterback while Burnette was named third-team defensive tackle.
Heinicke, a Walter Payton Award finalist, broke Steve McNair's single-season FCS passing yards record with 5,076 yards on the season and also broke the completions record with 398. McNair passed for 4,863 yards for Alcorn State in 1994 while Villanova's Brett Gordon held the previous completions record of 385 in 2002.
A native of Atlanta, Ga., Heinicke was 398-of-579 and set a new CAA record with 44 TD passes.
His 390.5 passing yards per game led the nation and is the third highest in FCS history behind only Willie Totten of Mississippi Valley State in 1984 who had 455.7 and McNair who had 442.1 in 1994. Heinicke's 44 touchdown passes is the third most in FCS history behind Totten and Bruce Eugene who are tied with the record of 56. Totten did it in 1984 while Eugene tossed 56 touchdowns for Grambling in 2005.
Heinicke also ran for 11 TD's this season to lead the Monarchs and finished the year with 55 total touchdowns which not only led the FCS but is the third highest total behind Totten's 61 and Eugene's 59.
The sophomore also earned CAA Offensive Player of the Year and was named first-team All-CAA quarterback.
Burnette led all CAA defensive linemen with 73 tackles. He also recorded seven tackles for loss and four sacks. Burnette also recorded an interception against Towson and forced a team-best three fumbles.
A native of Baltimore, Md, Burnette also earned first-team All-CAA accolades.
The Monarchs finished atop the CAA with a 7-1-conference mark and earned the No. 4 seed in the FCS playoffs. ODU finished the season with an 11-2 overall record.