Two Bison named to the BSCN Preseason All-American teams

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Gallaudet University football recently had two players named to the 2012 Beyond Sports College Network preseason All-American teams. Junior defensive end Matt Harris (Lynchburg, Va.) was named to the first team defense for Division III and senior linebacker Tom Pangia (Hammonton, N.J.) was picked to the second team defense. The two Bison are part of 201 Division III players named to this scouting and recruiting website's 2012 preseason All-American teams.

Gallaudet had the second most representatives among the eight Eastern Collegiate Football Conference (ECFC) teams. Castleton State College led the way with three selections and one first team honoree in wide receiver Brandon Boyle. Becker, Husson, Mount Ida and SUNY Maritime all had one selection.

Harris led NCAA Division III with 15.5 sacks and 26 tackles for a loss of 129 yards. Harris was named ECFC Defensive Player of the Week twice (Oct. 24, 31) and was picked to the D3football.com Team of the Week (Oct. 24). He was a first team All-ECFC first team defensive selection. When he wasn't terrorizing opposing quarterbacks, Harris was making plays all over the field as he recovered a fumble and played in all 10 games.

Pangia, the first-ever three-time All-ECFC first team defender, led the conference with 103 tackles (72 solo) as the team co-captain had 11 or more tackles in six of the 10 games this season. The junior linebacker forced two fumbles, recovered one, and made one interception as he started in all 10 games.

Gallaudet will open the season on Saturday, September 1, in Ohio to take on Otterbein University in a non-conference game at 1 p.m.