December 10, 2007

BLUFFTON, Ohio - Bluffton University linebacker Sam McCullough (Bluffton, Ohio/Bluffton) was recently named to the All-North Region second team by D3football.com for his efforts on the gridiron in 2007.

McCullough, who collected his third straight first team All-HCAC honor in 2007, ended the season with a school-record 150 tackles, placing him atop the Heartland Conference in that category for the second time in his career. His 15.0 tackles per game placed McCullough third nationally in NCAA Division III.

He tallied a team-high 13.5 tackles for a loss, including six sacks. For the year, he recovered two fumbles and picked off two passes while also blocking a punt. McCullough was named HCAC Defensive Player of the Week three times during his senior season.

The senior wrapped up his career at Bluffton with a school-record 458 stops, including 43 tackles-for-a-loss. McCullough forced seven fumbles, picked off five passes and tallied 180 solo tackles as a Beaver.

Mount Union running back Nate Kmic was named D3football.com North Region Offensive Player of the Year and teammate Pat McCullough, a defensive tackle, was named the Defensive Player of the Year.

Mike Hallet, who took over as head coach at Heidelberg and inherited a team that had lost 36 consecutive games, guided the Student Princes to a 4-6 record in his first season. He was named North Region Coach of the Year.

The teams, selected in balloting by North Region sports information directors and D3football.com staff, were chosen from 183 nominations by Division III member schools. A total of 76 players were chosen (there was a tie for the final safety spot).

-BEAVERS-