PHILADELPHIA, Pa. - Eastern Kentucky University junior tight end Patrick Bugg was the Ohio Valley Conference's sole representative on The Sports Network's 2005 I-AA Football All-America first team it was announced recently. The Associated Press later put Bugg on its second team All-America list.

Bugg, a native of Harrodsburg, Ky., earned first-team all-conference honors this year after leading all OVC players with 10 touchdown receptions. His most memorable catch of the season came against Southeast Missouri on Oct. 22 when he hauled in a fourth-down, 23-yard touchdown reception with :01 left on the clock to lift the Colonels to an improbable 33-32 victory.

The tight end caught at least one pass in every game during the 2005 campaign while finishing seventh in the league in receiving yards per game (55.3). Against Murray State on Nov. 5, Bugg notched four receptions for a career-high 115 yards and two scores. He rambled 85 yards on a pitch-and-catch from sophomore running back Mark Dunn during that game, which turned out to be EKU’s longest play from scrimmage this year.

Bugg joins former Colonels Alex Bannister (WR – 2000), Yeremiah Bell (DB – 2001) and Pierre Wright (DB – 2004) as first team All-Americans in the last five years. Bannister currently plays for the Seattle Seahawks while Bell forced a critical fumble in the Miami Dolphins’ 23-21 win over San Diego on Dec. 11. In all, Eastern Kentucky has produced 35 first team All-Americans since 1950, most by any school in the Ohio Valley Conference. Bugg was also named second-team All-OVC in 2004.

Bugg is one of five first team All-OVC honorees that return to the Colonel squad in 2006. The tight end will be joined by OVC Offensive Player of the Year Josh Greco, offensive lineman Sean Dumford as well as defensive lineman Mark Cristiani and linebacker Brandon Rosser in search of Eastern Kentucky’s 29th consecutive winning season.