PISCATAWAY, NJ – Three members of the Rutgers football team – Raheem Orr (Elizabeth, NJ), Jarvis Johnson (Miami, FL) and Nate Jones (Scotch Plains, NJ) – have been named to the ECAC’s Division I-A Football All-Star team. Orr (DE) and Johnson (DB) were selected to the defensive unit, while Jones was honored as the return specialist.

Orr, who served as one of RU’s co-captains, enjoyed a breakthrough season in 2003. He finished second on the team in tackles with 82 (32 solo, 50 assisted), which led all BIG EAST defensive linemen. He also finished first in the league in tackles-for-loss (19.5) and was second in sacks (8.5). He ranked 14th nationally in TFLs and 31st nationally in sacks.

Orr, also named the Scarlet Knights’ MVP, had seven or more tackles in eight of 12 games, including a season-high 10 vs. Virginia Tech on Oct. 4. He also had 3.0 TFLs and 2.5 sacks vs. the Hokies. Orr also led the team with 19 quarterback hurries and was recognized by The Sporting News as the BIG EAST’s “Littlest Known Pass Rusher”. He was also a first team all-league selection by the BIG EAST and The Sporting News and played in the Blue-Gray All-Star Classic on December 25 in Troy, AL.

Johnson, a junior, started all 12 games at strong safety and led RU with 97 tackles, the fifth-best mark among defensive backs in the BIG EAST in 2003. Johnson led RU in tackles in eight of 12 games and had 10 or more tackles in five games, including a four-game stretch from Sept. 6 through Oct. 4. He also tied for the team lead in interceptions (2), returning one 47 yards for a touchdown vs. Virginia Tech on Oct. 4. He had a season-high 11 tackles (5 solo, 6 assisted) vs. Pittsburgh on Oct. 18 and blocked a field goal that was returned for a touchdown in a 48-27 win over Navy on Sept. 27.

Jones served as RU’s primary kick returner, averaging 25.7 yards per return (third-best in the BIG EAST). Jones returned 19 kickoffs for 489 yards, including an 81-yarder for a touchdown vs. Boston College on Nov. 15. He was named the BIG EAST Special Teams Player of the Week on Nov. 17 for his efforts. Jones also had five other kick returns of 30+ yards during the season. A starter at cornerback, Jones finished third on the team in tackles with 73 and was tied for first with two interceptions. Jones was also honored as a First Team Academic All-America selection.

Rutgers finished with a 5-7 mark in 2003, the most wins since the 1998 season, and picked up two BIG EAST wins, also the most since '98. The Scarlet Knights also posted the fifth-best turnaround in the country, posting a +4.0 improvement in 2003.

ECAC Division I-A Football All-Stars

ECAC Player of the Year
WR - Larry Fitzgerald, Pittsburgh

ECAC Rookie of the Year
WR - Chris Henry, West Virginia

Offense
QB - Dan Orlovsky, Connecticut
QB - Rod Rutherford, Pittsburgh
OL - Jeff Berk, West Virginia
OL - Augie Hoffman, Boston College
OL - Rob Petitti, Pittsburgh
OL - Chris Snee, Boston College
OL - Adam Terry, Syracuse
WR - Zamir Cobb, Temple
WR - Larry Fitzgerald, Pittsburgh
TE - Kris Wilson, Pittsburgh
RB - Derrick Knight, Boston College
RB - Quincy Wilson, West Virginia

Defense
DL - Raheem Orr, Rutgers
DL - Christian Ferrara, Syracuse
DL - Mathias Kiwanuka, Boston College
LB - Eddie Carthan, Navy
LB - Ryan Kent, Army
LB - Rich Scanlon, Syracuse
LB - Rian Wallace, Temple
LB - Grant Wiley, West Virginia
DB - Brian King, West Virginia
DB - Adam Jones, West Virginia
DB - Jarvis Johnson, Rutgers
DB - Will Blackmon, Boston College

Special Teams
RS - Nate Jones, Rutgers
K - Collin Barber, Syracuse
P - Andy Lee, Pittsburgh