EMORY, Va. – Emory & Henry College senior linebacker Devan Sproles has been selected as a First-Team Preseason All-American by three different organizations. The Norton, Va. native was chosen by Lindy's Sports and the Beyond Sports Network in June, and most recently by D3football.com.

Sproles is coming off a 2011 season where he was named an Honorable Mention All-American and All-South Region First Team by D3football.com. He led the way defensively in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference, being named First-Team All-ODAC and the Lou Wacker Defensive Player of the Year.

A finalist for the Lanier Award, the Touchdown Club of Richmond's award for Virginia Small College Player of the Year, Sproles was selected as State Linebacker of the Year. He also took home Small College Defensive Player of the Year and All-State First Team and honors from The Roanoke Times.

Sproles tallied 107 tackles, including 40 solo and six interceptions for the season. He recorded a season-high 15 tackles at UVA-Wise (Sept. 17) and picked off three passes at Guilford (Nov. 12), the first ODAC player to accomplish the feat since 2007. He was named ODAC Defensive Player of the Week for Weeks Five and Eleven.

The Emory & Henry Football Team will open the 2012 season on Saturday, September 1 when it travels to Ferrum College for a 1:00 p.m. contest. The Wasps will have their first home game on Saturday, September 15 at 1:00 p.m., when the Monarchs of Methodist University visit Fred Selfe Stadium.

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