2013 SBN BCAA Team
NORFOLK, Va. – Norfolk State junior linebacker Lynden Trail added one of the only honors he hasn't received from the 2013 season to his collection on Wednesday – black college All-American.
Trail was NSU's lone selection on this year's Sheridan Broadcast Network (SBN) Black College All-American Team. The SBN team is the oldest active team honoring HBCU players from both Division I and Division II. It also recognizes just one offensive and defensive team along with special teams performers.
Trail was also named later in the week to the College Sports Journal's Division I FCS All-America Team - Trail's fourth FCS All-America award of the year and second FCS first-team All-America nod.
The 6-7, 260-pound Trail was second on the Spartans with 94 tackles this year, which ranked 16th in the conference. He added 12.5 tackles for loss (tied for eighth in MEAC), 8.5 sacks (fifth in MEAC), two interceptions, eight pass breakups, 10 quarterback hurries, five forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and two blocked field goals. With 10 total passes defended, Trail was the only non-defensive back to rank in the MEAC's top 10 in that category (tied for ninth). Trail tied for first in the nation in forced fumbles per game (0.42). Lining up at receiver in red-zone packages, Trail also caught a team-high three touchdowns passes. Including a fumble recovery for a touchdown against Florida A&M, Trail tied with running back Rolandan Finch for the team-lead in TDs during the year, with four.
Trail was at his best in the Spartans' victories this past season. He made two interceptions and also caught a scoring pass in the win over Morgan State, earning MEAC Defensive Player of the Week honors. The following week against Savannah State, Trail amassed 10 tackles, a sack, another TD reception, two pass breakups and blocked the potential game-winning field goal in the closing seconds. But perhaps his signature moment came in NSU's 27-24 upset win over No. 12 Bethune-Cookman on Nov. 9. Trail racked up eight tackles, 2.5 for loss, 1.5 sacks, two forced fumbles and a pass deflection to earn MEAC and Co-National Defensive Player of the Week accolades.
Trail has already been tabbed a first-team Division I FCS All-American, a first-team All-MEAC performer and an all-state team member this winter.
NSU's last SBN honorees came following the 2011 season, when offensive linemen Kendall Noble and Blake Matthews, linebacker Corwin Hammond and kicker Ryan Estep were all selected.
The SBN All-American Team and SBN's 2013 Black College National Champion Tennessee State University Tigers will also be honored during the Black College Hall of Fame Enshrinement Ceremony on March 1 in Atlanta, Ga.
