OGDEN, Utah – The Northern Arizona football team had 17 players selected to the All-Big Sky teams announced Tuesday including three first-team members in senior running back Alex Henderson, who finished the regular season with a league-high 1,166 rushing yards, senior wide receiver Ed Berry (75 catches, 1,075 yards) and junior safety Matt Estrada.

Henderson finished the season as the top rusher in the Big Sky Conference with a 106.0 per game average. He rushed for 1,166 yards with 12 touchdowns and a 4.6 per carry average. It was the second 1,000 yards season of his career and he finished second on the school's all-time rushing charts. He had six 100-yard games on the season including five in Big Sky play. He also rushed for over 100 at Ole Miss.

“I was very excited to hear about the honor,” said Henderson,” who was also a second-team selection in 2006 and honorable mention in 2007. “I was very excited I could contribute to the offense this season. I am proud to have played for this program and I was honored that I could be selected as a captain of the team.”

Berry started all 22 games in his Lumberjack career, making at least one catch in every game. He was an All-Big Sky honorable mention selection in 2008, leading the team with 45 catches and 641 receiving yards. He was one of the top receivers in the country this season, ranking tied for sixth in the FCS and first in the Big Sky in receiving yards per game (97.7 avg.) and 16th in the FCS and second in the league receptions per game (6.8). He had a team-best 75 catches for 1,075 yards and seven touchdowns this season.

Estrada led the team with 78 tackles with a team-best 47 solo tackles. Has recorded at least seven tackles in six games and had 10 or more three times including a season-high 12 tackles at Sacramento State.

“I am thankful the coaches put me in the right position this year to make plays,” said Estrada. “The guys in front of me helped me be successful and a lot of people really stepped up this season on the defense.”

The Lumberjacks had three players chosen to the second-team offense, including tackle Ryne Holstrom, quarterback Michael Herrick and kicker Matt Myers. On defense, linebacker Stevon Thomas and defensive end Isaac Bond were both selected to the second team.

Nine student-athletes were chosen for the All-Big Sky honorable mention team. Wide receivers Conrad Meadows and Curt Sweeney joined offensive linemen Jeff Hines and Kris Poindexter and tight end Shaun Fitzpatrick on the honorable mention offense.

Sophomore tackle Dwight Boyd and junior end Brandon Vance were chosen for the defensive honorable mention team with junior linebacker Reid Worthington. Junior Taelor Worrell was recognized on the honorable mention special teams unit.

2009 ALL-BIG SKY TEAM

FIRST TEAM OFFENSE
Wide Receivers
Ed Berry, Sr., Northern Arizona

Running backs
Alex Henderson, Sr., Northern Arizona

FIRST TEAM DEFENSE
Safeties
Matt Estrada, Jr., Northern Arizona

SECOND TEAM OFFENSE
Tackles
Ryne Holstrom, Sr., Northern Arizona

Quarterback
Michael Herrick, Jr., Northern Arizona

Placekicker
Matt Myers, So., Northern Arizona

SECOND TEAM DEFENSE
Ends
Isaac Bond, So., Northern Arizona

Inside linebackers
Stevon Thomas, Sr., Northern Arizona

HONORABLE MENTION OFFENSE
Wide Receivers – Conrad Meadows, Sr., Northern Arizona; Curt Sweeney, Sr., Northern Arizona.

Guards – Kris Poindexter, Jr., Northern Arizona.

Center – Jeff Hines, Jr., Northern Arizona.

Tight end – Shaun Fitzpatrick, Sr., Northern Arizona.

HONORABLE MENTION DEFENSE

Tackles – Dwight Boyd, So., Northern Arizona.

Ends – Brandon Vance, Jr., Northern Arizona.

Outside linebackers – Reid Worthington, Jr., Northern Arizona.

SPECIAL TEAMS HONORABLE MENTION
Taelor Worrell, Jr., Northern Arizona.