Justin Crosier named Second Team All-North Region

Click here for D3football.com All-North Region release http://www.bluffton.edu/sports/football/2011/allregion.pdf

For the second consecutive season, Bluffton University nose tackle Justin Crosier (Columbus/Hamilton Township) has been named to the All-North Region Second Team by D3football.com for his work on the football field. This follows Crosier earning First Team All-Heartland Conference honors for the second straight season. Crosier is Bluffton's first-ever two-time All-North Region selection by D3football.com.

Crosier took home his second consecutive first team All-Heartland Conference honor after leading the Beavers to their best season since 2004. For the second straight year, Crosier led the HCAC in tackles-for-a-loss (16.5) and he was second in the conference with six sacks. The pre-season All-American nose tackle equaled Jake Luthy for second on the team with 56 stops after topping the Beavers (63 tackles) in 2010.

He ended his career first all time with 50.5 TFL's and seventh all time with 219 total tackles. Crosier also finished with 15.5 sacks, six quarterback hurries, four forced fumbles and two blocked kicks. He was a three-time All-HCAC performer, earning honorable mention as a sophomore.

Wheaton (Ill.) quarterback Garrett Meador and Mount Union safety Nick Driskill led the D3football.com 2011 All-North Region team. Driskill was named North Region Defensive Player of the Year, while Meador was named the North Region Offensive Player of the Year.

Heidelberg coach Mike Hallett, whose Student Princes went 8-2 and posted their best record since 1993, is the D3football.com 2011 North Region Coach of the Year.

Meador completed 65 percent of his passes and threw for 2,908 yards for the 8-2 Thunder. He threw 28 touchdowns and just interceptions.

Driskill led the Purple Raiders in regular season tackles with 81, 50 solo, including 13 against UW-Oshkosh and 14 with a sack against Baldwin-Wallace. He recorded 13 tackles for loss and five sacks. Mount Union is 13-0 and in the national semifinals for the 17th consecutive season.

The teams, selected in balloting by North Region sports information directors and D3football.com staff, were chosen from 193 nominations by Division III member schools. A total of 75 players were chosen.