Bears Athletics - Smith Selected to Cactus Bowl

Shaw’s Quintez Smith Selected for Cactus Bowl

Also Named HSRN Player of the Year Finalist

(Raleigh, NC) – Shaw All-America cornerback Quintez Smith has been named to the East squad for the Cactus Bowl – the premiere All-Star game for Division II seniors.

The game, to be played January 8, 2010 in Kingsville, TX, will feature 80 of the best Division II seniors in the nation. The Cactus Bowl will be Smith’s third All-Star game of the season. He led both teams in tackles at the East Coast Bowl, and will play on December 19 in the inaugural HBCU Bowl in Montgomery, AL.

It was also announced today that Smith is a finalist for the Heritage Sports Radio Network’s Player of the Year award which is given to the top Division II HBCU player. The winner is decided by fan voting that continues until Wednesday, December 16 at 7:00 p.m. Eastern.

Earlier this week, Smith was named First Team All-America by two different organizations: the American Football Coaches Association and Daktronics, Inc. Smith received the highest number of votes among cornerbacks in the Daktronics poll. In November, he was also named CIAA Defensive Player of the Year.

During the 2009 season, Smith tied a Division II record by returning four interceptions for touchdowns, and tied for first in D-II with nine interceptions. He accumulated 302 interception return yards. He finished the season with 49 tackles and also scored two touchdowns on fumble returns.

Against Elizabeth City State in week one, Smith set a Division II single game record with 194 interception return yards. He tied the Division II single game record of three interceptions returned for touchdowns.

Smith was named CIAA Defensive Back of the Week three times this season, and was named d2football.com’s National Defensive Player of the Week in week one.

Shaw University finished the season 8-2 (5-2 in the CIAA).