PITTSBURG, Kan. --- Five Tusculum College players have been named to the 2008 Don Hansen's Football Gazette NCAA Division II All-America Team announced College officials Friday. Jarrell NeSmith was named to the All-America First Team, Corey Russell, Justin Scott and John Gregory were selected to the Third Team, while Ryan Tallent garnered All-America honorable mention accolades.

NeSmith, a 6-2, 215-pound junior tight end from Russellville, Ala., has earned All-American distinction four times this year. He has been named to the Associated Press Little All-America Team, Daktronics Division II All-America Team and the D2Football.com All-America Team. He also earned All-South Atlantic Conference First Team, Daktronics Super Region Two First Team and Football Gazette All-Region First Team honors this season.

NeSmith finished 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 Roll.

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. This is his third All-America accolade this season, having been named to the Daktronics All-America Second Team and D2Football.com. He was a national finalist for the Harlon Hill Trophy, which recognizes the Division II National Player of the Year as he finished sixth in the national voting. 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 earlier this month. In that game, he rushed and passed for a touchdown as he accounted for over 170 total offensive ya