BIRMINGHAM, Ala.—Samford sophomore safety Jaquiski Tartt was named All-American by College Sports Madness when the website released its postseason Division I-FCS awards on Saturday.
 
Tartt, who is on the watch list for the Buck Buchanan Award for the top defensive player at the FCS level, led the team and tied for seventh in the Southern Conference in tackles with 94. He led the SoCon in passes defended with 14, and he tied for the league lead in interceptions with four.
 
From his safety position, Tartt scored two defensive touchdowns for the Bulldogs. He returned a fumble 80 yards for a touchdown against Georgia Southern, and he returned an interception 65 yards for a score against The Citadel.
 
Tartt, in his first season as a starter for the Bulldogs, was also named first team All-Conference for the Southern Conference earlier this week. During the season, he was named the SoCon Defensive Player of the Month for September, and he earned SoCon Defensive Player of the Week honors twice.
 
Tartt and the Bulldogs finished the 2012 season with a record of 7-4 overall and 5-3 in Southern Conference play. The team won seven games for the first time since 2003, and the Bulldogs finished with a winning SoCon record for the first time since joining the league in 2008.