ALFONSO HOGGARD, PIERRE ODOM AND MIKE O’BRIEN

NAMED TO FOOTBALL GAZETTE ALL-REGION SQUAD

            Clarion University freshman wide receiver/return specialist Alfonso Hoggard (Fr. Philadelphia – Caravel Acdemy), receiver Pierre Odom – (Sr. Trenton, N.J. – Hamilton West), and offensive tackle Mike O’Brien (Sr. Minersville) were named this week to the Football Gazette Northeast Region squad.

            Hoggard earned second team honors as an all-purpose player, while Odom was a third team receiver and O’Brien a third team offensive tackle.

            “These players really deserved their All-Region honors,” said Clarion head football coach Jay Foster. “All three worked very hard this year and performed well on the field, and were leaders on this team.”

            Hoggard, a true freshman, is a 5’4”, 160-pound all-purpose player from Philadelphia. As a wide receiver Hoggard grabbed 48 passes for 505 yards and 3 td’s. His top games included 9 catches for 81 yards and 1 td against IUP, 9 receptions for 66 yards against Lock Haven and 7 grabs for 84 yards against Shippensburg. As a runner he toted the pigskin 13 times for 79 yards and 1 td, and as a kickoff return specialist he had 34 kickoff returns for 693 yards, including a 46-yard return against West Chester. He finished 8^th in the entire PSAC in catches per game (4.36) and 8^th in all-purpose yards with 116.1.

            Hoggard is a Business major at Clarion and is the son of Alfonso Hoggard Jr., and Jacqueline Speaks.

            “Alfonso had a great freshman season,” said Foster. “He’s an exciting player every time he touches the ball. And he’s tough. He takes a hit and comes right back. He’s earned his honor.”

            Odom, a 5’10”, 180-pound senior wide receiver, has been one of the top receivers in the PASC during his career. In 2007 he ranked 5^th in catches (52), and 6^th in receiving yards (678), plus grabbed 5 td passes. Top games included 10 catches for 93 yards against Tiffin, 7 grabs for 119 yards and 1 td versus IUP and 7 receptions for 115 yards and 1 td against Bloomsburg.

            Odom had a tremendous career at Clarion. Also a 2006 All PSAC-West choice, he had 46 catches for 798 yards and 3 td’s last season, along with 33 catches for 418 yards and 3 td’s in 2004 and 29 receptions for 366 yards and 1 td as a freshman in 2003. He finished his career as Clarion’s third leading pass catcher (160) and third leading receiver (2,257 yards) with 12 receiving td’s. His top individual game came in 2006 when he clutched 6 aerials for 246 yards and 1 td versus West Chester.

            Odom is the son of Jennifer Odom and is a Management major at Clarion.

            “Look at the Clarion record book and that’s all you need to know about what Pierre Odom has done for Clarion,” said Foster. “I have the utmost respect for him. He really worked very hard to be his best and embraced everything we asked him to do. I am very happy for him.”

            O’Brien, a 6’5”, 290-pound senior, right offensive tackle, had his best season in 2007 in a very good career for the Golden Eagles. O’Brien started all 11 games at right tackle, was a tri-captain with Odom and Kyle Cathcart, and excelled as a run and pass blocker all season long. O’Brien started at tackle on the offensive line for the last thee years, never missing a game. (32 games). As a freshman, he played defensive line in 2004 and posted 9 tackles, 2 tfl’s and 1 sack.

            O’Brien is the son of James and Josephine O’Brien and is a Finance major at Clarion.

            “I’m so happy that Mike O’Brien was selected as an All-Region and All-PSAC player,” said Foster, “he really deserves it. Mike is such an unselfish player and such a great leader on and off the field. This was only the third year in his entire career that he played offensive line and he improved every season. His dedication and commitment to quality will really be missed.”

            CLARION NOTES: The Golden Eagles finished 0-11 on the season, but had many close games and led in several games including against IUP, Edinboro, Fairmont State and Lock Haven … Clarion played 30 freshmen during the season and overall had approximately 60 true freshman recruits entering the 2007 season … Foster has completed two seasons as head coach … He was hired Feb.8,  2006 after 17 years as defensive coordinator at Slippery Rock and 18 overall years there.