SIOUX FALLS -- Former University of Sioux Falls football standouts Carrington Hanna and Robert Virgil are among the 45 U.S. players selected to play on the 2015 U.S. Men's National Team and assembled by USA Football. The roster includes players aged 20 and order.
The coaching staff is led by former Boise State and Colorado head coach Dan Hawkins, now a college football analyst for ESPN and SiriusXM. Hawkins was head coach of the Montreal Alouettes of the CFL in 2013.
Two former Cougars coaches and a former USF defensive lineman will join Hawkins on the coaching staff. Robert Tucker (2010-13 at USF), now head coach at Los Angeles Valley College, will serve as defensive coordinator. Former USF standout Jerry Brady of West Hills Community College will coach defensive lineman. And, Isaiah Jackson (2010-12 at USF), now specials team coordinator and linebackers coach at West Virginia State, is the defensive line coach.
The team will compete in the fifth International Federation of American Football (IFAF) World Championship, a seven-nation tournament held July 9-18 in Canton, Ohio. IFAF works with 78 countries spanning six continents that possess national federations dedicated solely to American football.
Hanna, who was named All-NSIC three times, accounted for 3,946 yards during a stellar career (2011-13) with the Cougars. In his career, he had 119 receptions for 1,460 yards and 14 TDs. He also had 146 rushes for 616 yards and five TDs. As a quarterback, Hanna was 162-of-285 passing for 1,870 yards and 12 TDs.
A native of Streetsboro, Ohio, Hanna was named USF's first-ever CoSIDA Academic All-American in 2013. As a senior, Hanna had the unique honor of earning selection to the NSIC team as both a quarterback and wide receiver (first team). In 2013, Hanna led USF to a 6-5 record after completing 99-of-162 passes for 1,085 yards and seven TDs. He also had 44 receptions for 491 yards and three TDs while running 72 times for 214 yards. He had 1,299 total yards. As a junior in 2012, he had 89 receptions for 898 yards and 10 receptions for the 9-2 Cougars. He ranked first in the league in receptions at 6.27 per game; second in TDs and fifth in yards per game at 81.5. As a sophomore for the 5-4 Cougars (transition year to DII), Hanna was 62-of-123 for 785 yards and seven TDs with 74 carries for 375 yards and five TDs with six receptions for 71 yards and a TD.
Virgil, who was all-league defensive back in 2012 and a member of the first team All-Dakota Transition team in 2011, had 12 interceptions (11th all-time at USF) with 115 tackles in his career with the Cougars. He also had three TFLs, a safety, 18-yard TD fumble return, two fumble recoveries, 19 pass breakups, 31 passes defended and two forced fumbles.
As a senior in 2012, Virgil 67 tackles, 16 pass breakups, 23 passes defended, seven interceptions, which ranked second in the league and sixth all-time for a season at USF. His 23 passes defended was a league best. Virgil was tabbed as a second team BSN All-America defensive back. The laurels marked the third postseason honor for Virgil, as he was named to the Daktronics Region 3 Second Team Defense and was also a first team All-NSIC selection. Virgil was also credited with a career-high 12 tackles, a in USF's 32-31 double-overtime victory against Augustana College.
The U.S. Men's National Team includes athletes from 24 states and will compete in a field against national teams from Australia, Brazil, France, Japan, Mexico and South Korea. The IFAF World Championship has been held every four years since 1999. In 2011, the United States defeated Canada, 50-7, for the gold medal in Vienna, Austria. The U.S. beat Japan, 23-20, in double overtime in Kawasaki, Japan, to win the 2007 tournament, the first that included a team from the United States.
All games will be played at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium and available via live stream or ESPN3. Matchups are July 9, 12 and 15 with consolation games and the medal round on Saturday, July 18. Kickoffs are noon, 3:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. on July 9, 12, 15 and 18 to determine gold, silver and bronze medal winners.
