June 28, 1999

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. - University of Virginia football players Thomas Jones and Noel LaMontagne have been named Second-Team All-Americans by Football News magazine.

Jones and LaMontagne are rising seniors and are among the team's tri-captains for the 1999 season. Jones, a tailback from Big Stone Gap, Va. (Powell Valley H.S.), is among the leading returning rushers in the nation this fall. He led the ACC by almost 400 yards last season and finished 11th nationally, averaging 118.5 rushing yards per game. He was a first-team All-Atlantic Coast Conference choice a year ago after rushing for 1303 yards, the third-highest total in school history. Jones needs to rush for 1190 yards this fall to break Tiki Barber's school career rushing record.

LaMontagne, from Coopersburg, Pa. (Southern Lehigh H.S), was a key member of an offensive line that helped rejuvenate the Virginia rushing attack last season as the Cavaliers led the Atlantic Coast Conference in a number of offensive categories. A returning two-year starter at guard, LaMontagne was a first-team All-ACC selection last fall and could become the first UVa offensive lineman named first-team All-ACC for two consecutive seasons since tackle Ray Roberts did so in 1989-90.

The two offensive standouts are among five Cavaliers named to the Football News Preseason All-ACC team. Joining them on the magazine's preseason All-ACC squad are tight end Casey Crawford, center John St. Clair and linebacker Byron Thweatt.

Crawford, from Falls Church, Va. (Bishop O'Connell H.S.), was named to the All-ACC first-team in 1998 despite missing two games with injuries. He caught a career-high 11 passes for 136 yards and is a dangerous receiving threat downfield.

St. Clair, from Roanoke, Va. (William Fleming H.S.), fought through a series of nagging injuries last season to start 11 games, including the Peach Bowl vs. Georgia, and was named to the All-ACC second team in his first year as a starter.

Thweatt, a Chesterfield, Va. (Matoaca H.S.), native, is Virginia's leading returning tackler in 1999. A two-year starter, he had 99 stops last season and was an honorable mention All-ACC selection.

Virginia posted a 9-3 record last season and was ranked 18th in the final polls by both The Associated Press and USA Today/ESPN. The Cavaliers open their 1999 season on Sept. 4 against North Carolina in Chapel Hill, N.C.