SALISBURY, N.C. --- Tusculum College had eight players named to the 2008 Don Hansen's Football Gazette NCAA Division II All-Super Region 2 Team announced College officials Wednesday.

The Pioneers had five First Team honorees, including Corey Russell, Jarrell NeSmith, Justin Scott, Jeremy Thompson and John Gregory. Ryan Tallent earned All-Region Second Team honors, while Danny Partida and Jarvis Littlejohn were named to the Third Team.

Russell, a 6-4, 190-pound senior quarterback from Speedwell, Tenn., smashed the record books in the finest season ever posted by a Pioneer signal caller. He was named to the Daktronics NCAA Division II All-America Second Team and was a national finalist for the Harlon Hill Trophy, which recognizes the Division II National Player of the Year. The 2008 South Atlantic Conference Offensive Player of the Year and Daktronics Region Player of the Year peppered his name throughout the Tusculum, SAC and NCAA II record books.

Russell established 15 Tusculum records this season, including a pair of NCAA Division II bests. He recorded 300 or more total offensive yards on 11 occasions this season, which were the best in DII history. He recorded 674 total offensive plays, which are a new NCAA II record. The All-SAC First Team signal caller established league single-season records in total offensive yards (4907), passing yards (4097) and touchdown passes (37). He also set TC season records for completions (301) and pass attempts (505).

Russell caps one of the most successful careers in Division II history. His 11,315 total offensive yards are the most ever by a Pioneer, second in SAC history and ninth in NCAA II history. The Cumberland Gap High School graduate also set career marks in pass attempts (1382), completions (773), passing yards (9887), TD passes (82), touchdowns accounted for (103), interceptions (49) and total offensive attempts (1853). He also becomes the first Tusculum quarterback to earn NCAA II All-American and All-Region honors.

Russell was selected to play in the Valero Cactus Bowl, the NCAA II Senior All-Star game, which was held in Kingsville, Texas last week. In that game, he rushed and passed for a touchdown as he accounted for over 170 total offensive yards, splitting time at quarterback for the East squad.

NeSmith, a 6-2, 215-pound junior tight end from Russellville, Ala., has earned All-American distinction three times so far this year. Last month, he was named to the Associated Press Little All-America Team. He was selected as the First Team tight end for the Daktronics Division II All-America Team. He earned All-South Atlantic Conference First Team and Daktronics Super Region Two First Team honors this year, finishing second on the team and in the league with 67 receptions. His catch tally is the third-best in school history. He totaled 635 receiving yards, while making seven touchdown receptions, which are tied for the fourth most in TC history.

NeSmith was also recognized for his off the field success as he was named to the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America® College Division Third Team. The Russellville High School graduate has a 3.83 cumulative grade point average as a Pre-Medicine major. He is a two-time Academic All-District First Team selection, was also named the SAC Scholar Athlete for Football for a second consecutive year. He is a member of the SAC Commissioner's Honor Roll and the Tusculum Athletic Director's Honor