Wednesday, November 29, 2017

Graf named to 20-Year All-Tazon Team

Sean Graf '01 was named to the 20-Year All-Tazon Team.
(Photo Courtesy of Lycoming Sports Information)
WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. – Lycoming College Athletics Hall of Famer Sean Graf ’00 is a part of Global Football’s All-Tazon Team, the organization announced on Wednesday, Nov. 29, as the team is made up of 25 impact Division III players to play in the annual Division III-Mexico all-star game.


The All- Tazón team was selected by a panel of veterans of the Tazón De Estrellas (Bowl of the Stars) and its Global Football-organized predecessor The Aztec Bowl, from games played between 1997 and 2016. Players were chosen based on their on-field performances and the leadership qualities they displayed south of the border, by 20-year veterans of the event, Global Football President Patrick Steenberge and player personnel director John Roslien (Central College), and several coaches who have traveled as members of the Team Stars & Stripes staff during the past two decades.

Grad was selected as a part of a group that includes four individuals who went on to play in the NFL in London Fletcher (John Carroll University, Washington Redskins), Fred Jackson (Coe College, Buffalo Bills, Seattle Seahawks), Jason Trusnik (Ohio Northern University, New York Jets, Cleveland Browns, Miami Dolphins and Clint Kriewaldt (Detroit Lions, Pittsburgh Steelers).

Graf was one of five Warriors to appear in the then-named Aztec Bowl, along with Jason Meyer ’97, Jason Marraccini ’98, Cameron Coleman ’00 and Matt Mendola ’03. Graf played in the 2000 game, where he was the leader of a secondary that edged the Mexican team, 27-26 at a sold-out Estadio Elvarado.

A four-year starting defensive back for the Warriors, Graf was a key part of one of the most successful four-year runs in the history of the football program, helping the team win three MAC titles, make three NCAA Tournament appearances and make one trip to the Stagg Bowl, the NCAA Division III Championship game, in 1997. By the time he finished his career in 2000, the Philadelphia, Pa., native had accumulated 15 career interceptions, the sixth-most in program history, while his 38 passes defended are seventh. He also posted 153 career tackles, eight tackles for loss and five fumble recoveries.

He was Lycoming's Defensive Player of the Year and earned his first of two First Team All-MAC honors as a junior. As a senior, he earned consensus All-American honors, earning second team honors on the Hewlett Packard/SID list and Third Team All-American honors from both the Don Hansen Football Gazette and D3football.com. During the season, Graff picked off eight passes and had four more passes defended while making 24 tackles. The shutdown cornerback was again a First Team All-MAC selection and also earned First Team All-MAC honors as a punt returner, as well as the Downtown Wilkes-Barre Touchdown Club MAC Defensive Player of the Year.

Still living an active lifestyle, Graf still participates in various flag and rough touch football leagues. He competes in several local crossfit competitions, as well as Spartan Race and the Tough Mudder. Graf owns a construction company, GRAIN Builders, LLC, and he is also starting a development company. GRAIN Builders, as well as Graf, have been featured on several different home remodeling shows, including ones on A&E, HGTV and the DIY Network.

The 2017 Warriors finished 4-6 overall and 4-5 in the MAC, tying for sixth, under 10th-year head coach Mike Clark.

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