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Three Ivy Footballers Picked As Ones To Watch
Created: 8/26/2002 3:51:25 PM
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Harvard’s senior receiver Carl Morris, junior linebacker Dante Balestracci and Brown’s senior receiver Chas Gessner have all been placed on the official "Payton Watch" and "Buchanan Battle" lists, The Sports Network announced today.
The Walter Payton Award is presented annually to the nation's top I-AA player, while the Buck Buchanan Award goes to the top defensive player in I-AA.
Morris was the 2001 Ivy League Player of the Year and New England Sportswriters' Player of the Year after making a school-record 71 receptions for 943 yards and 12 touchdowns during the Crimson's 9-0 season. He ranked third in the country in receptions per game (7.89) and 10th in reception yards per game (104.78). Already owning eight of Harvard's nine major receiving marks, Morris was a 2001 Associated Press Third Team All-America and has been cited by The Sports Network as the top returning receiver in all of Division I-AA.
Balestracci, a unanimous First Team All-Ivy and All-New England choice last fall, made a team-leading 58 tackles despite missing two games with an ankle injury. He also collected two interceptions, had six pass break-ups, and blocked a pair of field goal attempts. Balestracci was the 2000 Ivy League Rookie of the Year and the first freshman ever named to the League's First Team.
In just nine games, Gessner caught 83 passes for 1,182 yards and 12 touchdowns, earning second-team All-America honors for his work. One of only five returning finalists for the Payton Award, he finished first in the nation in receiving yards per game at 131.4 and ranked finished the second in receptions per game (9.22). Gessner also set League records in a non – league game with 19 receptions and 269 yards versus Rhode Island. The 6-foot-5 Maryland native wasn't done though as he earned All-America honors in the spring in lacrosse.
Only 32 players-16 for each award- are placed on the "watch lists," which will be updated three times during the season. The top three finalists and winners of each award will be honored at the 16th annual I-AA College Football Awards on December 19, in Chattanooga, TN, on the eve of the I-AA National Championship Game. The Eddie Robinson Award, honoring I-AA's top coach will also be presented that evening.
Villanova's Brian Westbrook, the NCAA's all-time all-purpose yards leader and a third-round draft pick of the NFL Philadelphia Eagles, won the 2001 Walter Payton Award. James Madison linebacker Derrick Lloyd was the recipient of last year's Buck Buchanan Award. For a complete list and additional information on each player appearing on this year's list, as well as history and facts about each of the I-AA awards, go to TheSportsNetwork.com
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Related Schools: No Associated School
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Related Sports: Football
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*This Article has been archived.*
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