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December 2, 2003 |
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TCNJ's
PATERSON NAMED CoSIDA |
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The College of New Jersey’s senior defensive lineman Scott Paterson has been named to the 2003 CoSIDA Academic All-America National Second Team. With his selection, Paterson became just the second TCNJ football player to achieve this national recognition and the Lions' 41st national Academic All-American. A Dean’s List Student at TCNJ, Paterson is an exercise science major who has achieved a 3.48 grade point average. He was also a candidate for the 2003 National Football Foundation Post-Graduate Scholarship earlier this fall. The recipient of United States Army Leadership Award, Paterson has been active in TCNJ’s ROTC program since arriving on campus. During the 2003 season, he was the squad’s fourth leading tackler with 51 tackles, including 14 solo stop. He also added 16 tackles for a loss (-81 yards), 5.5 sacks, (-54 yards), three fumble recoveries and three forced fumbles. He currently ranks No. 32 among the NCAA Division III national leaders in forced fumbles. A four-year letter with the Lions, he played in 38 games, collecting 114 career tackles, and 14.5 sacks (-109 yards). He also added six forced fumbles, four pass breakups and five fumble recoveries. A 2003 NJAC first-team all-conference selection, he is also a candidate for the 2003 ECAC All-Star Team as well as several All-America squads. TCNJ, which was ranked as high as No. 18 in the in the AFCA poll during the season, finished 6-4 overall and 4-1 in the NJAC. The Lion defense is currently ranked nationally in several categories including No. 10 in rushing defense (85.8 ypg), No. 14 in total defense (244.6 ypg), No. 32 in scoring defense (15.4 ppg) and No. 24 in turnover margin (+1.2). As a sophomore, Paterson was chosen as the recipient of the inaugural Hank Johns Award as the team's most improved football player. A four-time TCNJ Scholar-Athlete, he was also named a 2002 National Strength & Conditioning All-American. Active in the Army–ROTC program at TCNJ, Paterson was he recipient of the NJ Outstanding Cadet Award in 2001 and recently served as platoon leader for the 25th Infantry Division in Hawaii. He plans on pursuing a career in the Army in the branch of Military Intelligence. He is also a graduate of the National Advanced Leadership course from Ft. Lewis, WA. A volunteer at the Trenton Area Soup Kitchen, Paterson has also participated in TCNJ's award-winning Super Bowl Reading Program. He is also a certified substitute teacher and holds membership in the American Association for Health and Physical Education Recreation and Dance, the NJ Association for Physical Education Recreation and Dance and the National Strength and Conditioning Association. Paterson is just the second Lion football player to earn CoSIDA Academic All-America honors and joins Curt Monday, who was honored in 2000. All told, TCNJ has produced 41 national CoSIDA Academic All-Americans since the program was started 51 years ago. |
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