MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. (Dec. 10) – Senior defensive end DJ DeWitt and junior return specialist/defensive back Scott Cree both recently added to their collection of postseason accolades as they were honored by D3football.com
After being named a pre-season All-American by the website, DeWitt was named a first-team member of the All-South Region Team after rolling up 17.5 tackles for loss and 10.5 sacks, which ranked him number one in the Presidents’ Athletic Conference (PAC) in dropping the quarterback.
The senior from Vanderbilt, Pa. also ranked second on the team with 52 total tackles. For his career, DeWitt started 38 of the 40 games he appeared in, rolled up 23 sacks and ended his Jacket playing days with 42 tackles for loss.
DeWitt was also named First-team All-PAC for the second-straight season at defensive line following his senior campaign. He was an honorable mention pick his sophomore year. He was also the only PAC player to receive first-team laurels on this year’s D3football.com All-South Region Team.
Cree had a breakout season in 2008, both as a returner and as one of the team’s starting cornerbacks. For his efforts, the Waynesburg native was named second-team All-South Region as a returner.
In 2008, Cree returned three kickoffs for touchdowns, and added a pair of punt returns for scores. He also averaged 25.8 yards per kick return, including a 97-yarder for a score that just missed breaking the school record, and 12.4 yards per punt return, with a long of 88 yards. The Waynesburg Central graduate led the PAC in kick and punt return average.
When he wasn’t having one of the best special teams seasons in school history, Cree was causing headaches for opposing quarterbacks by picking off a team-best five interceptions. He added his sixth touchdown of the season, despite never playing offense, when he ran one of those picks back for a score against Westminster.
Like DeWitt, Cree was also named First-Team All-PAC, winning the award as a kick/punt return specialist.
Waynesburg has had at least one selection on a D3football.com All-Region team since 2005, which was the first year that the team was selected. This is the second-straight year that the Jackets have had a first-team pick (DE Mike Czerwien in 2007).
The teams, selected in balloting by South Region sports information directors and D3football.com staff, were chosen from 205 nominations by Division III member schools.