Oct. 14, 2011

CLEVELAND, Ohio - Eight Army players, including three first-team choices, were selected to the Phil Steel Midseason All-Independent Team.

Phil Steele's College Football Preview not only offers a preseason magazine, it also selects preseason, midseason and postseason All-America teams and All-Conference choices as well.

Running back Raymond Maples, linebacker Steve Erzinger and safety Tyler Dickson were first-team selections to the Midseason All-Independent Team while running back Malcolm Brown, guard Frank Allen, defensive lineman A.J. Mackey, linebacker Andrew Rodriguez and punter Chris Boldt were second-team choices.

Maples is second on the team with 534 rushing yards on 82 carries, averaging 6.5 yards per carry with four rushing touchdowns. He has returned seven kicks for 116 yards.

Erzinger leads the team with 64 tackles and three sacks. Dickson is second on the team with 35 tackles and one interception and one forced fumble.

Brown has 42 carries on the season for 325 yards while averaging 7.7 yards per carry with one touchdown. Rodriguez has 28 tackles and two fumble recoveries while Mackey has recorded 21 tackles and 3.5 tackles for loss. Boldt has punted 11 times for 452 yards. He averages 41.1 yards per punt with a long of 64. Allen has been a mainstay on the offensive line and has helped the Black Knights average 361 rushing yards per game.

Army, 2-4, is idle this weekend and will travel to Nashville, Tenn., next weekend to face Vanderbilt at 7 p.m. Eastern time. ESPNU will carry the game to a national audience.