Alex Tanney (Normal, Ill./Lexington) and Mike Blodgett (Northfield, Minn./Appleton North), the most prolific pass-catch tandem in Monmouth College football history, have been named to the 2011 Associated Press Little All-American Third Team.
The Little All-American team recognizes athletes in NCAA Divisions II and III and the NAIA. Tanney and Blodgett were the only representatives on the squad from the Midwest Conference. With the pair in the lineup, Monmouth won three conference titles, earning the NCAA's automatic playoff berth each year and twice advancing to the second round. Tanney and Blodgett are the first Scots to be named AP Little All-Americans since linebacker Dwayne Hughes was on the second team and defensive end Ed Smith was named honorable mention in 1985.
Tanney, a two-time finalist for Division III's Gagliardi Trophy, ended his career as the NCAA all-divisions leader with 157 touchdown passes. His pass efficiency rating of 181.99 this season ranked him third in Division III. The 2009 Melberger Award winner and three-time Midwest Conference Player of the Year holds division records with 14,249 passing yards and 32 games of more than 300 yards. He averaged more than 300 yards per game in 47 games and holds 27 school records. Tanney completed 69 percent of his passes throughout his career and was 38-9 as a starting quarterback for the Scots.
A business major, Tanney is the son of Don and Crystal Tanney of Normal. This marks the first time Tanney has been honored by the Associated Press.
Blodgett earned his first All-American honor of any kind after returning from an injury in 2010. Monmouth's all-time receptions leader averaged more than 155 yards per game, ranking him second in Division III. His 10.5 receptions per game place him third in the national rankings. Blodgett was also among the nation's best all-purpose performers, ranking fourth with nearly 207 all-purpose yards each game. He ended his career with a school-record 5,004 all-purpose yards. Among his 20 Monmouth records are career highs of 43 touchdowns and nearly 4,100 yards receiving.