ITHACA, N.Y. -- Ithaca College football senior Sam Carney earned preseason all-america honors from D3football.com ahead of the start of the 2014 season. Carney was named to the preseason all-american second team by D3football as a return specialist. He is a kick returner and defensive back for the Bombers and will serve as a team captain for the 2014 season.

Carney earned all-conference and all-region honors for the second consecutive year as a kick return specialist following his junior season in 2013. He was a first-team pick by the Empire 8 and in the East Region by D3football.com after ranking seventh in the country in punt returns (15.7 yards/return) and 11th in kickoff returns (30.1 yards/return). Carney also contributed 33 total tackles including 21 solo stops and had two forced fumbles and two interceptions in the Ithaca secondary. Carney had a 91-yard kickoff return touchdown in the NCAA playoff game at Wesley and a 67-yard touchdown on a punt return against Frostburg State.

As a sophomore in 2012, Carney was a first-team All-Empire 8 selection as kick return specialist. He was a member of Ithaca's junior varsity as a freshman in 2011.

Ithaca begins its season with a Sept. 6 home game against Union College.

2014 D3football.com Preseason All-America Teams