December 9, 2010

BLUFFTON, Ohio - Bluffton University nose tackle Justin Crosier (Columbus/Hamilton Township) was recently named to the All-North Region Second Team by D3football.com for his work on the football field in 2010. This comes on the heels of Crosier earning First Team All-Heartland Conference honors. It marks Bluffton's first selection to a D3football.com All-Region team since Sam McCullough was named Second Team All-North Region in 2007.

Crosier, who was honorable mention All-HCAC as a sophomore, stuffed opposing offenses with an HCAC-leading 19.0 tackles for loss which placed him tied for eighth nationally in Division III. In addition to his prowess at stopping the run, Crosier paced the Beavers and finished second in the Heartland Conference with 7.5 sacks for a loss of 51 yards. He tallied a team-high 63 stops, 39 unassisted, while forcing a pair of fumbles and two quarterback hurries.

Mount Union wide receiver Cecil Shorts III and North Central linebacker Matt Wenger led the D3football.com 2010 All-North Region team. Wenger was named North Region Defensive Player of the Year, while Shorts was named the North Region Offensive Player of the Year for the second consecutive season.

Trine coach Matt Land, whose Thunder went 10-0 and advanced to the second round of the NCAA playoffs, is the D3football.com 2010 North Region Coach of the Year.

Despite missing three games with injury, Shorts had 50 receptions in the regular season, for 826 yards and 15 touchdowns. Shorts has scored 12 touchdowns in four games since returning to the lineup.

Wenger recorded 84 total tackles, 46 solo as North Central went 10-0 in the regular season. He recorded eight and a half tackles for loss and broke up three passes.

The teams, selected in balloting by North Region sports information directors and D3football.com staff, were chosen from 204 nominations by Division III member schools. A total of 75 players were chosen.

-BEAVERS-