Campbell's football program, after just completing a successful fourth season on the field, had another strong season in the classroom with 56 players earning academic accolades from Pioneer Football League (PFL) in the form of a place on the honor roll, the league announced recently.
Redshirt sophomore linebacker Michael Rudisill, redshirt freshman linebacker Colten Burris and sophomore running back Kurt Odom, who were each all named both CoSIDA Academic All-District 3 Selections and First Team Academic All-PFL selections earlier this season, were each selected to the PFL Academic Honor Roll for the second consecutive season. Andy Johnson became the first CU player to earn a place for four straight years. Jordan Cramer, Tyler Dean, Sam Eberwein, Chad McMichael, C.J. Oates, Paul Pizzuti, Nick Potts, Chris Price and Freddie Shine were all selected for the third time. Other multiple year honorees for Campbell this season include: Rashaun Brown, Todd Davis, Troy Horan, Will Keebler Kelvin Murphy, Isaac Scott, Lucas Smith, Austin Tart and Dakota Wolf. The first time for selections for Campbell this season were Jaylan Adlam, A.J. Artis, Carl Blain, Jonathan Bridges, Milton Brown, Branden Burt, Darius Carter, Kevin Collins, Paul Constantine, Ryan Davis, Danny Dillon, Preston Dodson, LeShawn Edouard, Erik Feliciano, Brooks Gross, Jared Hart, Hunter Hiers, Luke Hill, Harris Hite, Adam Lutz, Taurean Lynch, Dylan McSteen, Aaron Nichols, Dylan Pebbles, Alex Ratley, Christian Rogers, Luke Sirgo, Braden Smith, Hunter Somerville, Thacker Staley, Justice Walker, Mitchell Wells and Andrew Yost.
The Pioneer Football League athletic directors established the honor roll as a way to recognize the league's outstanding student-athletes. The academic honor roll consists of student-athletes who participated in football at member institutions during the fall semester and posted a 3.0 grade-point average or higher during the semester while enrolled full-time in accordance with NCAA rules.
This season all 10 PFL teams are represented on the honor roll with five member schools boasting 50 or more student-athletes on the honor roll this season. Dayton led the way with 72, followed by Butler (68), Davidson (64), Drake (61) and Campbell (56). The five were followed by San Diego (42), Morehead State (32), Valparaiso (32), Jacksonville (28) and Marist (27). The league as a whole had 482 student-athletes selected.
Campbell's total of 56 was the highest number in school history bettering the 37 from last season.
Campbell went 6-5 and placed 11 on All-PFL teams in 2011. The six wins and the team's five wins in league play were both school Division I records. For the third consecutive season the Camels led the Pioneer Football League in rushing with an average of 210.45 yards a contest. The Camels total placed the team 18th in the nation. The team had five individuals in the league's top 20 in rushing in Carl Smith, C.J. Oates, Jordan Cramer, Braden Smith and Kurt Odom. Three Campbell players earned national recognition for outstanding performances in the classroom with Kurt Odom, Michael Rudisill and Colten Burris being named CoSIDA First Team District 3 selections. The Camels also had five players earn Academic All-PFL Honors in Odom ( first team – offense), Rudisill (first team – defense), Burris (first team – defense), Jordan Cramer (first team – offense) and Sam Eberwein (second team – special teams).
2011 Pioneer Football League Academic Honor Roll
