Posted: Friday, December 18, 2009 3:08 pm

WACO, Texas — Joe Gibbs, a senior offensive lineman, at The University of Tennessee at Martin has been named to the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Football Championship Subdivision All-American Team as announced by the AFCA on Wednesday.
“This is a great honor for Joe,” said Skyhawk head coach Jason Simpson. “Joe is one of the hardest working football players I have ever coached. He is most deserving of this honor.”
Gibbs was the only OVC player selected to the 25-person team.
Gibbs started 11 games at right tackle in 2009 and did not allow a sack all season. The Brilliant, Ala., native played a key role in the Skyhawks' offensive success this season. The Skyhawks (6-5, 4-4 OVC) were third in the league in rushing offense, second in total offense, second in scoring and first in passing offense.
This year's AFCA FCS Coaches' All-America Team is made up of 20 seniors and five juniors.
The AFCA has selected an All-America team every year since 1945. What makes these teams so special is that they are the only ones chosen exclusively by the men who know the players the best — the coaches themselves.
The five teams now chosen for each AFCA division evolved from a single 11-player squad in 1945. From 1945 until 1967, only one team was chosen. From 1967 through 1971, two teams, University Division and College Division, were selected. In 1972, the College Division was split into College I and College II. In 1979, the University Division was split into two teams — FBS and FCS. In 1996, the College I and College II teams were renamed Division II and Division III, respectively.