Meyer lands on AP I-AA first team

Eastern Washington University quarterback Erik Meyer added another jewel to his crown on Wednesday – with the biggest one yet to be determined.

Meyer was named to The Associated Press first-team I-AA All-America team, the second such accolade for the record-breaking Eagle.

He finds out tonight if he is the winner of the Walter Payton Award, which goes to the top offensive player in I-AA football. He is one of three finalists invited to the awards banquet in Chattanooga, Tenn., which is held prior to Friday’s I-AA championship game.

EWU wide receiver Eric Kimble and offensive lineman Matt Alfred were picked on AP’s second team. All three were voted to The Sports Network first team, which was announced Monday.

There are two other All-American teams that are universally recognized, the Walter Camp team, selected by I-AA head coaches and sports information directors, and the AFCA Coaches team, voted on by the AFCA’s Division I-AA All-America Selection Committee. No Eagles were picked for those teams, which only have a first team.

Weber State offensive lineman Paul McQuistan was the only Big Sky Conference player picked by the coaches.

Kimble, who set nine EWU career records and four single-season marks, was a first-team AP pick last year. He finished with 44 career touchdown receptions, a Big Sky record and second all-time to Jerry Rice, who had 50.

Meyer, who broke eight Eastern career records, five single-season records and one single-game record, was a third-team pick.

Meyer and Kimble are seniors; Alfred is a junior.

The Big Sky had five players on the first team, four on the second and one on the third.

Brown running back Nick Hartigan, a first-team AP pick, is also a finalist for the Payton Award with New Hampshire sophomore quarterback Ricky Santos.

Hartigan was selected on all four All-American teams. Santos was the quarterback for the Camp team and a second-team pick by TSN.