By Tim Stried, SID
October 22, 2002

Four Bluffton College football players have been nominated for the Verizon Academic All-America team, including junior wide receiver Jimmy Dwenger (Minster), senior quarterback Brad Moore (Norwalk), senior defensive back Cam Staley (Lima/Bath) and senior defensive end Brian Steiner (Rawson/Cory-Rawson).

The All-District team will be released November 14 and the All-America team will be released December 2. The honorees are selected by a vote conducted by members of the College Sports Information Directors of America.

Nominees must be of at least sophomore status, carry a minimum grade point average 3.2 and be standout performers for their respective teams, as well.

All four of Bluffton's nominees were also nominated for this honor last season.

Dwenger, a business major, carries the highest GPA on the team and was named Academic All-Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference last season. Last season he caught 19 passes for 274 yards and five touchdowns, while this season he already has 16 catches for 280 yards and two TD's.

Moore, a communication major, is a captain this season and was named first-team All-HCAC as a sophomore and junior. He already ranks fourth in BC history in passing yards (4,457) and TD passes (34). Voted Bluffton's co-MVP last season, so far in 2002 he has completed 60.1% of his passes for 1,047 yards and six TD's.

Staley, a criminal justice and communication major, is a captain and was named Academic All-HCAC last season and is among the HCAC leaders this season in both interceptions (3) and passes broken up (6). He ranked fifth on the team in tackles last season and holds that ranking this season, as well.

Steiner, a sport management major, was a second team Verizon Academic All-District selection last season and earned Academic All-HCAC honors. He is a captain this season and was sixth on the team in tackles last season and so far this season.