CSUN’s Vaughn Is Named All-American

It wasn’t the best of seasons for the Cal State Northridge football team. But for defensive back Joseph Vaughn, personal milestones continue to pile up.

Vaughn, who set or tied a slew of school and national records, on Wednesday was named to the NCAA Division I-AA All-American team by the Associated Press.

Vaughn, a 6-foot 200-pound senior safety from Sylmar High, tied a school single-season record with nine interceptions and became the first Northridge player to make the AP’s I-AA first team.

Senior defensive lineman Oscar Wilson was selected to the third team.

Despite playing for a team that lost its last five games to finish 3-7, Vaughn was a persistent pain for quarterbacks.

Vaughn returned four interceptions for touchdowns to tie two I-AA marks and rolled up 265 yards in returns to set another division record. The previous record of 251 return yards was set by Zack Bronson of McNeese State last season.

Vaughn’s four interception returns for touchdowns not only tied a I-AA single-season record--Robert Turner of Jackson State set the record in 1990--but tied a Division I-AA career record held by Jackson and two others.

Vaughn tied for third in points for Northridge this season with 24. Vaughn was selected the American West Conference defensive player of the year, even though the Matadors finished last at 0-3.

Vaughn, who played two seasons at Cal State Fullerton before transferring to Northridge after the Titans dropped football in 1992, led Northridge with 87 tackles.

Wilson was fourth on the team with 55 tackles.