ROCK HILL, S.C. --- Tusculum College quarterback Corey Russell has been named the 2008-09 South Atlantic Conference Male Athlete of the Year, announced league officials Tuesday. The SAC Athlete of the Year is selected by a vote of the conference's nine Directors of Athletics.

Russell, becomes the second Pioneer football player to earn this honor and fourth Tusculum student-athlete to earn SAC Athlete of the Year accolades.

Russell, a 6-4, 190-pound senior from Speedwell, Tenn., smashed the record books in the finest season ever posted by a Pioneer signal caller as he led Tusculum to a 9-4 record and a South Atlantic Conference Championship. Tusculum advanced to the NCAA Division II Playoffs for the first time in school history, advancing to the second round and earned a No. 16 national ranking.

He was named to three All-America teams - Daktronics (second team), D2Football.com, and Football Gazette (third team). 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).

"This is a tremendous honor for both Corey and Tusculum College," said Tusculum head football coach and Athletic Director Frankie DeBusk. "He is one of the finest players I have ever had the privilege to coach. He has been a tremendous student-athlete, leader and competitor during his career at Tusculum. I'm very proud of this exceptional young man and he will be greatly missed."

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 became 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 in January. 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.

Russell is the fourth Tusculum student-athlete to earn SAC Athlete of the Year honors, joining former Pioneers: Guy O'Connell (baseball, 2002-03); Ricardo Colclough (football, 2003-04); Lesley Murray (women's tennis, 2003-04).

Tusculum College, located in Greeneville, Tenn., is affiliated with the Presbyterian Church, USA and is a NCAA Division II member of the South Atlantic