Dec. 7, 2006

KINGSTON, R.I. - Rhode Island senior defensive back Virgil Gray and junior kick returner Raji El-Amin were named to the Division I-AA All-New England team as voted upon by the New England Football Writers Association.

Gray, an Atlanta native, who also was named a second-team All-Atlantic 10 defensive honoree, finished third for the Rams with 67 tackles (47 solo, 20 assisted) and fourth in the conference with 12 passes defended. He made a career-high 12 stops (9 solo) in the Massachusetts game, while breaking-up three passes, including the second of his two interceptions on the season.

El-Amin, from Rochester, N.Y., additionally garnered second-team Atlantic 10 All-Conference honors after finishing third in the A-10 in kick-return average (23.9) and fourth in punt-return average (10.5). He was named the A-10 Special Teams Player of the Week on September 11 after breaking an 11-year old school-record with an 86-yard punt return for a touchdown versus Merrimack. The Rams' fourth-leading tackler with 63 stops (44 solo, 19 assisted), El-Amin also tied for first in the league with 13 passes defended and four interceptions on defense.

Rhode Island finished the 2006 season with a 4-7 record, including a 2-6 mark in the Atlantic 10.