The preseason All-America honor was the second received by the Pittsburgh native and Seton-LaSalle High School graduate, who was recognized in July as a second-team Division II Preseason All-American by Consensus Draft Services.

“We are very proud of Zach Sheridan and his performance the last three seasons as a member of The Rock football program and we anticipate he will have an outstanding senior season,” said George Mihalik, SRU's 24-year head coach. “He is truly deserving of this kind of national attention.”

The latest preseason honor put Sheridan on the “watch list” for the inaugural D2vsNAIA Senior Bowl all-star game scheduled to be played Dec. 3 in Middletown, N.Y.

As the name implies, the D2vsNAIA Senior Bowl is designed to showcase the talent of senior players from NCAA Division II and NAIA football teams. The game's selection committee will review player performance throughout the 2011 season and invite 40 players from each level to participate in the game.

Player invitations begin in September and conclude with a Nov. 15 commitment deadline.

According to a D2vsNAIA Senior Bowl press release, ut is anticipated the will be televised on the Fox College Sports Network.

Sheridan led The Rock in tackles last fall with 102 (43 solo, 59 assisted). He was the first Rock player to record 100 or more tackles in a season since Mike Waszczuk had 102 in 1998.

Sheridan also had two tackles for loss (-4 yards), two passes broken up and one fumble recovery. He was overlooked in voting for All-PSAC-West honors but was afforded second-team All-Atlantic Region honors by Daktronics, Inc.

Sheridan is one of seven returning defensive starters The Rock have from their 2010 team.

SRU opens its 2011 season with a Sept. 3 road game at Seton Hill University in Greensburg before hosting Cheyney University the following week in the home opener.