Lehigh University Athletics
Jackson and Diamond earn preseason honors
8/22/2008 10:45:00 AM | Football
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BETHLEHEM, Pa. – The Sports Network announced its 2008 preseason All-America football team on Friday and Lehigh had a pair of players, in seniors Brian Jackson and Tim Diamond, recognized. Jackson earned Second-Team accolades, while Diamond was a Third-Team selection. Jackson was a Second-Team All-American as selected by the Sports Network in 2007, and Diamond received Honorable Mention All-America distinction. In all, five Patriot League student-athletes were named to the preseason teams, with Lehigh’s pair of selections the most of any league institution.
Jackson, who received preseason All-America honors from Consensus Draft Services in June, totaled 63 tackles last season, including nine for loss and a team-leading five-and-a-half sacks. The New Jersey native registered a season-best ten tackles and two sacks in the season opener versus Villanova, and had at least five tackles in every game but two. Jackson, a defensive lineman, forced two fumbles during the season and finished second on the squad in total tackles.
A linebacker, Diamond led the Mountain Hawks with 107 tackles in 2007, marking the first time since 2004 a Lehigh player eclipsed the century mark in total tackles. Diamond registered 7.5 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, one interception and three fumble recoveries as a junior, returning one of the fumbles for a touchdown. The supply chain management major posted a career-high 22 tackles in a win over Harvard and overall had six games of double digit stops.
Lehigh and its pair of preseason All-Americans opens its season on Saturday, September 6 when the Mountain Hawks welcome Drake to Goodman Stadium. Kick-off is set for 12:30 and tickets can be purchased in one of three ways: by calling 610-7LU-GAME, by visiting the Lehigh Athletics Ticket Office, located in Grace Hall between the hours of 10 and 4, or by logging onto Lehighsports.com.
