Lasters Earns AP Little All-American
December 19, 2011
Senior defensive back becomes first SWOSU player since 1982 to receive honor that combines both NCAA Division II, III and NAIA teams together.
Clarence Laster earned AP Little All American
BRANDFORD, CT – Honors continue to roll in for Southwestern Oklahoma State University football star Clarence Laster who was named to the Associated Press Little All-American second team squad, officials announced last week.
The selection is the second time this season Laster has been honored with All-American accolades. He was a first-team All-American choice to the Daktronics team earlier this month.
Members of the AP Little All-American team are comprised of student-athletes from NCAA Division II, III and NAIA football teams. Laster is the first SWOSU player to be named to the team since 1982 when Richard Lockman made it as a linebacker. Previous to that was 1977 when defensive back Luis Blanton was chosen to the team.
Laster, a native of Hemet, Calif., was a senior defensive back and led SWOSU and the Great American Conference in tackles (97) and interceptions (8). He was a three-time GAC Player-of-the-week in games against Northwestern Oklahoma State, Central Oklahoma and Southern Arkansas. Laster returned two interceptions for touchdowns – 58 yards against NWOSU and 85 yards against UCO.
He was a first-team All-GAC selection and a first-team All-Super Region 4 pick earlier this month.
Laster came to SWOSU in 2010 after previously playing at Mt. San Jacinto Community College in California. He finished second on the team in 2010 with 71 tackles and two interceptions before this year’s breakout season.
Laster, who had a ninth interception over ruled because of a defensive penalty, became the first Bulldog player to record eight interceptions in a season since David Thompkins had 11 in 1980. His eight interceptions tied him for third nationally in NCAA Division II.
He has been selected to participate in the Players All-Star Classic a new college football all-star game will be played in Little Rock, Ark. on Saturday, Feb 4, 2012.
The roster will spilt in a North-South format and be made up of a collection of talented players from all levels of college football who are rated as prospects for the 2012 NFL Draft. Prospects from the roster of a similar game played last year (Texas vs. the World) currently boasts over 60 NFL players.
