Thursday, December 18, 2014
by Cody Bush, PFL Media Relations

NEW YORK – Stetson defensive back Donald Payne and Marist defensive back Zach Adler were each named to the Associated Press FCS All-America Teams, Wednesday.

Payne, the Pioneer Football League's Defensive Player of the Year, received first team honors from the Associated Press, backing up his first-team honors from the Walter Camp Football Foundation earlier in the week. He also finished fifth in the voting for The Sports Network's Buck Buchanan Award, presented to the FCS' top defensive player. Payne recorded a PFL record and FCS regular-season best 174 tackles (14.5 per game) during a campaign that also saw him also set the PFL single-game tackle mark (30 versus Campbell, Nov. 1) and post two additional 20-tackle outings.

Adler, a First-Team All-PFL selection, was named to the third team and is the second Marist player to earn Associated Press honors. He intercepted seven passes in 11 games, tying a Marist single-season record. Adler's average of 0.64 interceptions per game is currently tied for the first in the FCS ranks. He also had 78 total tackles and finished with 13 passes defensed.