KINGSVILLE, Texas --- Tusculum College seniors Corey Russell and Justin Scott have been selected to play in the 2009 Valero Cactus Bowl, the NCAA Division II All-Star Game which will be played January 9, 2009 at Javelina Stadium in Kingsville, Texas.

Russell and Scott will be members of the East squad that will also feature four other players representing the South Atlantic Conference, including George Washington (Mars Hill), Otis Ballard (Carson-Newman), Barry Tate (Lenoir-Rhyne) and Chris Dowdell (Mars Hill).

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 as he was named to the Daktronics NCAA Division II All-America Second Team. 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. He was a national finalist for the Harlon Hill Trophy, finishing sixth in the final vote.

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

Scott, a 6-3, 235-pound linebacker from Jamestown, S.C., has been Tusculum's Minister of Defense this year leading the team and South Atlantic Conference with 113 tackles, the second most in school history. The 2008 Daktronics All-Region honoree has also been a two-time All-SAC selection, pushing his name into the record book in tackles for loss in a season (22) and a career (51). His seven career fumble recoveries are the most ever in Tusculum history. Scott was named the SAC Defensive Player of the Week for his 10-tackle performance against Mars Hill. His 277 career tackles are tied for fifth all-time in school history with former All-American linebacker Craig Pritchett.

The Pioneers posted a 9-4 record winning four of their last five outings to capture TC's second South Atlantic Conference title in five years. Tusculum also made its first-ever appearance in the NCAA Division II Playoffs, advancing to the Final 16. TC finished the season ranked No. 16 in the AFCA Top 25 Coaches' Poll.

This year's edition of the Cactus Bowl will feature 19 All-Americans and is headlined by six of the 24 Harlon Hill Trophy candidates including Russell, Ted Schlafke (Minnesota-Duluth), Brian McNeill (Nebraska-Omaha), Charly Martin (West Texas A&M), Kevin McCabe (California, Pa.) and Mike Washington (West Chester).

Th