University of Albany Football's Tom Pandolf Leads Group of 11 UAlbany Players on NEC Fall Academic Honor Roll - UAlbany Sports

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Somerset, N.J. -- Tom Pandolf, an All-America defensive tackle, and Chris Simpson, an FCS academic all-star linebacker, lead a group of eleven University at Albany football players who have been named to the 2008 Northeast Conference Fall Academic Honor Roll, as announced on Thursday, Jan. 22 by the conference office.

Pandolf, who is enrolled in UAlbany’s graduate school, has a 3.55 grade point average. He earned an undergraduate degree in history with a minor in education last May. Pandolf, who totaled 66 tackles on a highly-regarded defense, was named to the Sports Network FCS All-America squad as an honorable mention selection and was voted first-team All-NEC for the second consecutive season.

Simpson, a junior outside linebacker, has a 3.97 GPA in physics. He was one of 43 players chosen nationally to the FCS Athletic Directors Association Academic All-Star Team. Simpson, who was picked to the NEC academic honor roll for the second year in a row, is a member of the school’s 3+2 engineering program and has served as a research intern for Nanoscale Science and Engineering.

Other UAlbany athletes named for the second straight year were tight end Dan Archer (3,50, business administration, wide receiver Daniel Bocanegra (3.25, business administration), offensive guard Andrew Stevens (3.31, business administration), defensive end Tony Sparano (3.40, history), quarterback Frank Blasinsky (3.47, business administration), defensive end Wil Moushey (3.51, undeclared), offensive tackle Keith Peifer (3.42, business administration) and inside linebacker Chris Bright (3.25, physical therapy). Offensive guard Vince Gonzales (3.22, history) was selected for the first time.