Three Football Players Named Academic All-America

Nov. 29 – (PITTSBURGH, Pa.) – Carnegie Mellon University football players Brian Freeman (Independence, Ohio/Padua Franciscan),  Clay Crites (Tuscarawas, Ohio/Indian Valley) and Matt Adams (Dublin, Ohio/Dublin Scioto) earned ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America honors awarded by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) for their outstanding performances as student-athletes this season.

Freeman and Crites were named to the first team and Adams was honored as a second team selection.  For the second straight season the Tartans have had three players named Academic All-America, as Freeman was one of the Tartans last season claiming second team honors.  This is the first time that Crites and Adams have achieved this status.

A two year starter, Freeman helped Carnegie Mellon establish the tenth best rushing attack in Division III averaging 277 yards per game. This marks the second straight season that the Cardinal and Gray have been ranked in the top ten in rushing nationally.  The junior offensive lineman played an influential role in the Tartans dominating rushing attack which produced a pair of running backs, seniors Travis Sivek and Robert Gimson, rushing for 1,000 yards in back-to-back seasons. The chemical and biomedical engineer was honored for his 4.0 grade point average, as well as his great play on the gridiron.

Crites, a defensive lineman majoring in mechanical engineering, has a 3.87 grade point average.  The 6’1, 245 pound junior finished ranked second on the team in sacks (6.0) and tackles for a loss (8.5) and third with 67 tackles.  During the 2007 season, Crites was part of one of the two safeties the Tartan defense had and forced a fumble while recovering another.   

A senior business administration major with a 3.87 grade point average, Adams landed 17 of his 50 punts inside the opponents 20 and averaged 39.2 yards per punt.  He finished the season with five punts of more than 50 yards including a school record 70-yard boot.