INDIANAPOLIS --- Tusculum linebacker Brian Alexander is listed amongst the national leaders in tackles according to this week's NCAA Division II football statistics.

Alexander, a junior from Union Point, Ga., is averaging 9.86 tackles per game, which is second in the South Atlantic Conference and 39th in the country. Alexander has recorded 10 tackles in each of his last three outings, including Saturday's performance at Lenoir-Rhyne where he also posted a tackle for loss, forced and recovered a fumble. His 214 career tackles are currently 12th most in school history, while his 29 career tackles for loss are ninth in the TC record book.

Junior punter Andy Rosetti continues to climb the national charts as his 41.88 punting average is second in the league and 17th in the nation. The Kenneth City, Fla. product is averaging 45.44 yards per punt in his last two games, including punts of 63 and 64 yards. On the year, Rosetti has pinned the opposition inside the 20-yard line on 15 occasions (44.1% of his punts this year), including seven punts of 50 yards or longer and four fair catches. The 2011 All-SAC Second Team selection is averaging 38.65 yards per punt for his career which is fifth in school history. He is also second in TC history in career punts (127) and punting yards (4909).

Junior quarterback Bo Cordell is listed four times in this week's statistics. The Cincinnati, Ohio native is third in the country in completions per game (32.14 cpg), fifth in total passing yards (2357), seventh in total offense (342.0 ypg) and 8th in passing yards per game (336.71). Cordell became Tusculum's all-time leader in total offensive yards over the weekend as he now stands at 11,397 yards, surpassing the previous record of 11.315 held by Corey Russell (2005-08). Cordell needs 182 more yards to break the SAC record held by Presbyterian's Todd Cunningham (11,578, 1998-2001).

Cordell has already smashed the school and SAC records for career passing yards with 11,458, which is 12th in NCAA Division II history. He is still 3,275 passing yards shy of the all-time DII record of 14,733 set by West Liberty's Zach Amedro (2007-10). In last week's game at Lenoir-Rhyne, Cordell recorded 29 completions, giving him 1,003 for his career, making him only he eighth player in DII history with over 1,000 completions to his credit.

Junior Xzanvion Smith (Anderson, S.C.) is fifth in the nation in receiving yards per game (110.14 ypg), fifth in total receiving yards (1,251), 21st in all-purpose yards per game (159.14 ypg), 23rd in receptions per game (6.57 rpg) and 27th in kickoff return average (26.38 ypr).

Senior running back Brian Marshall (Chattanooga, Tenn.) is still listed amongst the best all-purpose runners in the land. Marshall is averaging 177.86 all-purpose yards per contest, which is seventh in the nation. The 2012 Preseason All-SAC Second Team choice is also 20th in kickoff returns (27.24 ypr) and 32nd in punt returns (10.83 ypr). He has also emerged as one of the top receiving threats for Tusculum and is 37th in the nation in receptions per game (6.14 rpg).

Earlier this season, Marshall became the only player in school history to record 1,000 yards in both rushing and receiving for a career. He enters this week's action with 1,078 rushing (10th in TC history) and 1,150 receiving yards (15th in TC history). His 2,912 career all-purpose yards are seventh in the school record book.

Junior defensive back Kaytron Becton (Miami, Fla.) is 38th in the nation in passes defended per game (1.29), while sophomore linebacker Darien Crank (Fort Campbell, Ky.) is 44th in fumble recoveries per game (0.29).

The Pioneers are ranked in five team statistical categories including pass offense (T8th - 342.43 ypg), total offense (50th - 421.43 ypg), net punting (14th - 37.71 ypp), kickoff returns (11th - 25.03 ypr) and pass defense (46th - 193.86 ypg).

Tusculum (2-5, 1-2 SAC) returns home this Saturday to host Newberry (4-3, 2-2 SAC) for a 1:30 p.m. contest with the Wolves. Seven of the last eight meetings between the two schools has been decided by seven points or less.

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