PROVIDENCE, R.I. (February 15, 2013) – Twenty-eight student-athletes from the Rutgers football team were named to the BIG EAST All-Academic Football Team, the conference office announced. The number of honorees is up two from last season.

Senior Scott Vallone (Central Islip, N.Y.) finishes his career as a four-time BIG EAST All-Academic team member. The economics major recorded 52 tackles and three sacks in his final season for the Scarlet Knights.

Earning distinction for the third time were seniors Brandon Jones (Sicklerville, N.J.), Duron Harmon (Magnolia, Del.) and Matt McBride (Hicksville, N.Y.) and junior Logan Ryan (Berlin, N.J.).

Eleven student-athletes were honored for the second time, including junior Taj Alexander (Downington, Pa.), junior Betim Bujari (Secaucus, N.J.), senior Paul Carrezola (Langhorne, Pa.), junior Brandon Coleman (Accokeek, Md.), junior Chas Dodd (Lyman, S.C.), senior Justin Doerner (Redondo Beach, Calif.), senior Robert Jones (Jamaica, N.Y.), junior David Milewski (Sayreville, N.J.), senior Quron Pratt (Palmyra, N.J.), senior Lorenzo Waters (Coram, N.Y.) and senior Timothy Wright (Wall Township, N.J.).

A total of 12 were listed for the first time.

The 207 members selected from across the league were nominated by the respective institutions. To be nominated, a player must have a cumulative grade-point index of at least 3.0 and completed a minimum of two semesters of academic work.

* - number of career selections