Nelson Named ESPN Academic Football All-America

Nov. 23, 2010

AMHERST, Mass. - UMass senior wide receiver Anthony Nelson was named to the ESPN Academic All-American Football First Team on Tuesday. He is UMass' first Academic All-American since linebacker Mark Kimener in 2003.

A first team All-Colonial Athletic Association wide receiver as a junior and senior, Nelson led the CAA with 61 catches for 830 yards and four touchdowns. An Economics major with a 3.88 G.P.A., he helped Massachusetts post a 6-5 record. A transfer from Hofstra, he finished his career with 180 receptions for 2,212 yards. A native of Wellington, Fla., Nelson also excelled as a return specialist.

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TOWSON, Md. - Quarterback Greg McElroy of the University of Alabama and running back Isaac Odim of Minnesota Duluth headline the 2010 ESPN Academic All-America® Football Teams as selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA). McElroy has been named as the Academic All-America® of the Year for the University Division while Odim has been chosen as the Academic All-America® of the Year for the College Division.

A graduate student who earned his degree in Business Marketing with a 3.82 G.P.A., McElroy is pursuing a Master's degree in Sports Administration and has a 4.00 G.P.A. A Rhodes Scholarship finalist, he has been a two-year starter at quarterback for the Crimson Tide. McElroy has started 25 games at Alabama and has won 23 of those starts. In 2009, McElroy quarterbacked Alabama to a 14-0 record and the BCS national championship with a 37-21 victory over Texas. He was also the Most Valuable Player of the Southeastern Conference championship as the Southlake, Texas native led the Crimson Tide to a 32-13 win over Florida.

McElroy, who graduated from Alabama in three years, has led tenth-ranked Alabama to a 9-2 record this season. He has completed 182 of 259 passes for 2,390 yards and 17 touchdowns this season. In his career, he has thrown for 5,094 yards and 36 touchdowns. The owner of the lowest interception percentage in SEC history, he has thrown only ten interceptions in his career.

The recipient of an $18,000 post-graduate scholarship from the National Football Foundation, McElroy ranks sixth among active NCAA quarterbacks with a 152.76 passing efficiency.

A Mechanical Engineering major with a 3.85 G.P.A., Odim suffered a season-ending knee injury midway through the year at Minnesota Duluth. A repeat selection on the ESPN Academic All-America® College Division first team, he was selected to five different All-American first teams as a junior.

A member of the Bulldogs' NCAA Division II national championship team as a sophomore, he finished his career as UMD's career leader with 4,245 rushing yards on 589 attempts, an amazing 7.2 average. A three-time All-Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) selection, he was named as the NSIC Offensive Player of the Year twice.

In six games this season, he rushed for 796 yards and scored 17 touchdowns. At the time of his injury, he was leading the nation in rushing, all-purpose yards and scoring. A member of three NSIC championship teams, Odim is part of a team that has an 11-0 record and earned a first round bye in the NCAA Division II playoffs. As a junior, the Rochester, Minn. native helped the Bulldogs to an 11-1 record by rushing for 1,774 yards and 29 touchdowns. The Bulldogs, who have lost only two games the last three seasons, were upset in the first round of the NCAA Division II playoffs in 2009.

The 2010 ESPN Academic All-America® University Division first team features two scholar-athletes who earned first team notice for the third year in a row - running back Kyle Minnett of South Dakota State and defensive lineman Brandon Wingeier of Dayton.

Senior offensive lineman Stefen Wisniewski of Penn State and senior defensive lineman Sam Acho of Texas are the only other repeat selections of the ESPN Academic All-America® University Division first team.

Junior running back Jacquise Terry of Kent State, junior offensive lineman John Dowd of the U.S. Naval Academy and junior offensive lineman Barrett Jones of Alabama, all second team choices in 2009, were named to the ESPN Academic All-America® University Division first team this year.

Led by Penn State, four schools had more than one representative on the ESPN Academic All-America® University Division first team.

In addition to Wisniewski, junior defensive lineman Pete Massaro and senior linebacker Chris Colasanti give the Nittany Lions three first team honorees. Alabama, Dayton and Southern Illinois each placed two scholar-athletes on the first team.

While McElroy and Jones represent Alabama on the first team, Wingeier and senior defensive back A.J. Kaltenbach of Dayton were also named to the first team. Senior wide receiver Joe Allaria and junior defensive lineman Chance Coda of Southern Illinois each made the first team for the first time.

Seniors Kealoha Pilares of Hawaii and Anthony Nelson of Massachusetts join Allaria as the wide receivers on the first team while senior Kyle Adams of Purdue is the tight end.

On the offensive line, seniors Chase Beeler and Patrick Conroy of Brown join Dowd, Jones and Wisniewski.

While Acho, Coda, Massaro and Wingeier are the defensive linemen on the first team, graduate student Michael Hodges of Texas A&M joins senior Kyle Glazier and Colasanti as the linebackers.

Seniors Erik Stoll of Montana and Jordan Trimble of U.S. Military Academy have been honored as first team defensive backs, along with junior Austin Cassidy of Nebraska and Kaltenbach.

A senior from Notre Dame, place kicker David Ruffer was also named to the first team, along with junior punter Drew Butler of Georgia.

On the ESPN Academic All-America® University Division first team, there are 16 seniors and seven juniors. McElroy and Hodges are the only graduate students named to the first team.

A starter in ten games at South Dakota State, Minett is an Economics major with a 3.67 G.P.A. Chosen as an All-Missouri Valley Conference selection twice, he is a strong candidate for the Walter Payton Award as the top player in NCAA FCS. As a senior, he ran for 1,208 yards and scored 12 touchdowns to lead the MVC. A native of Ruthton, Minn., Minett finished his career with a school record 4,277 yards while scoring a school record 54 touchdowns. He also had three consecutive 1,000-yard rushing seasons.

A Mechanical Engineering major with a 3.78 G.P.A., Wingeier was a three-year starter on the defensive line for Dayton. During his career, he led the Flyers to a 39-7 record. As a senior, he made 36 tackles with four sacks, helping 24th-ranked Dayton to a 10-1 record and its third straight Pioneer Football League championship. A native of Newark, Ohio, he was named first team All-PFL twice.

An honorable mention All-Big 12 Conference selection as a junior, Acho helped Texas reach the BCS championship game last season. An Honors Business major with a 3.55 G.P.A., he has made 58 tackles for the Longhorns this year. A native of Dallas, Texas, Acho has played in 49 career games with 25 starts. A member of Playboy's All-America team, he has made 147 tackles with 23.5 sacks in his career.

A junior with a major in Aeronautics and a 3.66 G.P.A., Terry is the leading rusher for Kent State with 542 yards and a 3.6 average. With nine touchdowns scored, he ranks among the Mid-American Conference leaders. A versatile player who can also play wide receiver, he is the third on the team with 23 receptions for 285 yards and two touchdowns. A native of Phenix, Ala., he was named to the Mid-American Conference Academic first team last season.

A starter at right guard in all 11 games at Navy, Dowd has helped the Mids to a 7-4 record and a berth in the Poinsettia Bowl. A Mechanical Engineering major with a 3.92 G.P.A., he is a two-year starter who has helped Navy rank among the national leaders with 302.7 rushing yards per game. A native of Staten Island, N.Y., he has been a key blocker for record-setting quarterback Ricky Dobbs.

An Accounting major with a perfect 4.00 G.P.A., Jones has started 24 of the last 25 games at Alabama and helped the Crimson Tide win the 2009 BCS national championship. One of the blockers for the 2009 Heisman Trophy winner, Mark Ingram, he joins McElroy as Alabama representatives on the ESPN Academic All-America® University Division first team. A native of Memphis, Tenn., he was a Freshman All-American honoree.

The second-leading tackler for Dayton, Kaltenbach is a Business Marketing major with a 3.54 G.P.A. While helping the 24th-ranked Flyers post a 10-1 record, he made 59 tackles and intercepted two passes. A starter at safety in his senior season, he helped Dayton win three straight Pioneer Football League championships. A native of New Albany, Ohio, he is enrolled in the University's Honors Program.

Wisniewski, Massaro and Colasanti have led Penn State to a 7-4 this season.

A three-year starter at right guard for the Nittany Lions, Wisniewski was named first team All-Big Ten Conference as a junior in 2009. A Secondary Education major with a 3.91 G.P.A., he was a second team ESPN All-America® selection as a sophomore and earned first team notice in 2009. Honored as a pre-season All-American in 2010, he is a member of the AFCA Good Works team. A native of Bridgeville, Pa., Wisniewski has made two mission trips to the Dominican Republic in the last 16 months.

A Finance major with a 3.83 G.P.A., Massaro has started 9 of 11 games for the Nittany Lions. He has made 30 tackles with 3.5 sacks. He has made eight tackles for lost yardage, a mark that leads the team. An Academic All-Big Ten Conference selection, the Newtown Square, Pa. native has made a full recovery from an ACL injury which sidelined him for the 2009 season.

The Nittany Lions' leading tackler, Colasanti has a double major in Kinesiology and Pre-Medicine with a 3.61 G.P.A. With 92 tackles, Colasanti is second in the Big Ten Conference. A first-year starter at middle linebacker, he made 18 tackles against Illinois, the highest total in the Big Ten this season. A native of Leonard, Mich., he earned Academic All-Big Ten honors as a sophomore and junior. Allaria and Coda helped Southern Illinois post a 5-6 record this season.

A second team All-Missouri Valley Conference selection at wide receiver, Allaria is a Marketing major with a 3.75 G.P.A. One of the leading receivers in NCAA FCS, he finished the season with 58 receptions for 511 yards and three touchdowns. One of the Salukis' team captains, he caught a pass in 31 consecutive games. A native of Edwardsville, Ill., he finished his career with 138 receptions, second on the Southern Illinois career receiving list.

A three-year starter at defensive end for the Salukis, Coda is an Accounting major with a perfect 4.00 G.P.A. Named to the Missouri Valley Conference All-Academic team last season, Coda ranks among the team leaders with 30 tackles. A starter in 36 consecutive games, he leads SIU with five sacks. A native of Grand Rapids, Mich., he has blocked three field goals in his college career.

Pilares, who has a double major in Kinesiology and Recreation Science and a 3.61 G.P.A., has helped Hawaii post an 8-3 record. One of the top receivers in the nation, he has caught 73 passes for 1,099 yards and 13 touchdowns. The second-leading receiver in the Western Athletic Conference, he set a school record with 18 receptions for 218 yards and two touchdowns against Louisiana Tech. A native of Wahiawa, Hawaii, he caught three touchdown passes against Southern California.

A two-year starter at tight end for Purdue, Adams is a Management major with a 3.97 G.P.A. One of the Boilermakers' team captains, Adams was the team's top receiver with 33 catches for 210 yards. The president of Purdue's Fellowship of Christian Athletes chapter, he has caught 76 passes for 626 yards and three touchdowns in his career. A native of Austin, Texas, he is a Rhodes Scholarship candidate who earned Academic All-Big Ten honors twice.

A History major with a 3.68 G.P.A., Beeler has started all 11 games at offensive center for Stanford, helping the seventh-ranked Cardinal to a 10-1 record. A second team All-Pacific 10 Conference selection as a junior, he earned pre-season All-American honors from The Sporting News. A native of Jenks, Okla., Beeler is a candidate for the Rimington Award and the Outland Trophy.

A two-year starter at left tackle for Brown, Conroy is a Business Economics major with a 3.88 G.P.A. As a senior, he helped Brown post a 6-4 record and finish second in the Ivy League with a 5-2 mark. One of the team captains, he helped Brown's offense rank near the top of the Ivy League. A native of Leesburg, Va., he was part of an offensive line that allowed only four sacks all season.

A Law Enforcement and Justice Administration major with a 3.88 G.P.A., Glazier led Western Illinois to a 7-4 record and a berth in the NCAA FCS playoffs. One of the NCAA FCS leaders, he has recorded 137 tackles in 11 games. In a win at Missouri State, he made 25 tackles, the top mark in NCAA FCS this season. Named as a pre-season All-American, he was named first team All-Missouri Valley Conference as a senior. A native of Geneseo, Ill., he has made 362 tackles in his career.

A graduate student who is pursuing his Master's degree in Business Administration, Hodge has led Texas A&M to an 8-3 record this season. An honorable mention All-Big Ten Conference selection in 2009, he graduated from Texas A&M with a degree in Sports Management and a 3.82 G.P.A. Earlier this season, he was named as the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week after making 19 tackles against Oklahoma. A native of Helotes, Texas, he ranks sixth in the Big 12 Conference with 98 tackles.

A Psychology major with a 3.88 G.P.A., Cassidy has helped 12th-ranked Nebraska post a 9-2 record. The Cornhuskers are tied for first place in the Big 12 North with Missouri. A starter at safety for Nebraska, he has made 36 tackles with one interception. In a win at Iowa State, he intercepted a pass and returned it 29 yards for a touchdown. A native of Lincoln, Nebraska, he earned first team Academic All-Big 12 honors last season.

A starter in all 11 games for Montana, Stoll is a Biology major with a 3.92 G.P.A. The Grizzlies' third-leading tackler, he made 82 tackles while helping Montana post a 7-4 record. An honorable mention All-Big Sky Conference selection in 2009, he made 98 tackles as a key member of Montana's NCAA FCS runner-up team that posted a 14-1 record. A native of Sandpoint, Ohio, he leads the team with five interceptions as a senior.

A Systems Engineering major with a 3.77 G.P.A., Trimble has been a versatile member of the secondary at the U.S. Military Academy. While helping the Cadets post a 6-5 record, he has appeared in ten games at both safety positions. He has made 34 tackles to rank second among Army's defensive backs. In a win over North Texas, he made nine tackles and intercepted two passes. A native of Ashburn, Va., he has helped Army become bowl-eligible for the first time since 1996.

A consensus All-American punter at Georgia last year, Butler led the nation with a 48.1 average in 2009. A Telecommunication Arts major with a 3.58 G.P.A., he was the winner of the Ray Guy Award as the nation's top punter last season. Butler owns a career punting average of 46.4 yards per kick. A Presidential Scholar at Georgia, the Duluth, Ga. native also serves as the holder on all placements for Blair Walsh. He ranks third nationally with a 41.0 net punting average.

With a 3.90 G.P.A. and a major in Economics, Ruffer is a nearly perfect student who has been a perfect place kicker at Notre Dame. The national leader in field goal percentage, he has made all 15 field goal attempts this season. In fact, he hasn't missed a field goal attempt in his college career and has made 20 field goals in a row. While helping the Fighting Irish to a 6-5 record, he has scored a team-leading 77 points. A native of Oakton, Virginia, Ruffer kicked a 50-yard field goal against Pittsburgh, the sixth-longest field goal in school history.

The 25 members of the ESPN Academic All-America® University Division first team have an average G.P.A. of 3.79. Two members of the first team have perfect 4.0 G.P.A.'s.

2010 ESPN Academic All-America ®
Football Team as selected by CoSIDA
University Division
FIRST TEAM

Pos. Name School Dist. Yr. Hometown GPA Major
QB Greg McElroy Alabama IV Gr. Southlake, Texas 3.82 Business Marketing, Sports Adm.
RB Kyle Minett South Dakota State VII Sr. Ruthton, Minn. 3.67 Economics
RB Jacquise Terry (2) Kent State IV Jr. Phenix, Ala. 3.66 Aeronautics
WR Joe Allaria Southern Illinois V Sr. Edwardsville, Ill. 3.75 Marketing
WR Anthony Nelson Massachusetts I Sr. Wellington, Fla. 3.88 Economics
WR Kealoha Pilares Hawaii VIII Sr. Wahiawa, Hawai'i 3.61 Kinesiology, Recreation Science
TE Kyle Adams Purdue V Sr. Austin, Texas 3.97 Management
OL Chase Beeler Stanford VIII Sr. Jenks, Okla. 3.68 History
OL Patrick Conroy Brown I Sr. Leesburg, Va. 3.88 Business Economics
OL John Dowd (2) U.S. Naval Acad. II Jr. Staten Island, N.Y. 3.92 Mechanical Engineering
OL Barrett Jones (2) Alabama IV Jr. Memphis, Tenn. 4.00 Accounting
OL Stefen Wisniewski(1)$ Penn State II Sr. Bridgevillle, Pa. 3.91 Secondary Education
K David Ruffer Notre Dame V Sr. Oakton, Va. 3.90 Economics
DL Sam Acho (1) Texas VI Sr. Dallas, Texas 3.55 Honors Business
DL Chance Coda Southern Illinois V Jr. Grand Rapids, Mich. 4.00 Accounting
DL Pete Massaro Penn State II Jr. Newtown Square, Pa. 3.83 Finance
DL Brandon Wingeier @ Dayton IV Sr. Newark, Ohio 3.78 Mechanical Engineering
LB Chris Colasanti Penn State II Sr. Leonard, Mich. 3.61 Kinesiology, Pre-Medicine
LB Kyle Glazier Western Illinois V Sr. Geneseo, Ill. 3.88 Law Enforcement, Justice Admin.
LB Michael Hodges Texas A&M VI Gr. Helotes, Texas 3.82 Sports Management
DB Austin Cassidy Nebraska VII Jr. Lincoln, Neb. 3.88 Psychology
DB A.J. Kaltenbach Dayton IV Sr. New Albany, Ohio 3.54 Business Marketing
DB Erik Stoll Montana VII Sr. Sandpoint, Idaho 3.92 Biology
DB Jordan Trimble U.S. Military Acad. I Sr. Ashburn, Va. 3.77 Systems Engineering
P Drew Butler Georgia III Jr. Duluth, Ga. 3.58 Telecommunication Arts
ESPN Academic All-American of the Year: Greg McElroy, Alabama
(1) ESPN Academic All-America® first team selection in 2009
(2) ESPN Academic All-America® second team selection in 2009
(3) ESPN Academic All-America® third team selection in 2009

# ESPN Academic All-America® first team selection in 2008
$ ESPN Academic All-America® second team selection in 2008
@ ESPN Academic All-America® first team selection in 2008 and 2009

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