DC's Sierra and Pickett Grab Preseason All-Ohio Honors

DEFIANCE, Ohio – Defiance College seniors Tony Sierra and Gregg Pickett were among the 50 players named to the OhioCollegeFootball.com 2012 Preseason NCAA Division III All-Ohio squad. Sierra was selected as a First-Team All-Ohio defensive back, while Pickett earned Second-Team All-Ohio accolades from his defensive line position.

The duo of Sierra and Pickett was among the five Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference student-athletes to be recognized and will be expected to serve as key cogs in the Yellow Jacket defensive unit during the 2012 campaign. Both were previously tabbed as HCAC Players to watch, after earning First-Team All-HCAC honors following the 2011 season.

Sierra finished his third season with the Purple and Gold with 52 tackles, five hits for lost yardage, eight passes defended and a pair of interceptions from the strong safety position. Along with anchoring the secondary for DC, the Cousino High product led all HCAC performers and ranked 18th among all NCAA Division III athletes with 13.5 yards per punt return.

Pickett posted a breakout season in 2011 with 52 tackles, 10 tackles for lost yardage, 3.5 sacks, two passes defended and one interception. The Glen Este High standout closed the season on a tear, notching 3.5 sacks over DC's last five outings and averaging 5.8 tackles per game during that span, including a career-high 13 stops against Bluffton in the season finale.

Sierra, Pickett and the Jackets will open the lid on the 2012 campaign on September 1, when they host Albion inside Justin F. Coressel Stadium in a 1:30 pm start.