Dec. 14, 2005

WACO, Texas - Cortland Finnegan, a senior free safety at Samford, was named to the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) All-America Team released on Wednesday. The honor marks the second All-America team Finnegan has been named to since the 2005 season ended.

"This is a special honor for Cortland. They only select one team, so the chances of getting on the team are slim," Samford head coach Bill Gray. "To be selected by the coaches who watch him each week on film and who have to prepare for him is a special honor for him and for this university."

As a senior, Finnegan led the team in tackles for the third-straight season with 98 total tackles. Finnegan also broke up seven passes and intercepted one.

Finnegan also made his mark on special teams for Samford this season. He led the Ohio Valley Conference in punt return average (15.1 ypr.), and he ranked second in the conference in kickoff return average (25.1 ypr.).

Finnegan has made an impact throughout his career at Samford. He was named the OVC's Defensive Player of the Year, and an All-American in 2003. Last season, he was named first-team All-Conference despite missing two games with a broken arm.

Samford has now had a player named to the AFCA All-America team two seasons in a row, as wide receiver Efrem Hill was named to the team in 2004.

Finnegan is one of three players from the Ohio Valley Conference to be named to the team, with Clint Sellers of Eastern Illinois (linebacker) and David Simonhoff of Southeast Missouri (punter) also being named to the team.

The AFCA has selected an All-America team since 1945, and the team is selected exclusively by the coaches.