Spadola named to AFCA All-America team
12/8/2011 1:56:00 AM | Football
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Lehigh junior wide receiver Ryan Spadola has been named to the AFCA Football Championship Subdivision Coaches' All-America team, it was announced Wednesday. Spadola has been one of the top offensive weapons for the Mountain Hawks, as he has smashed school single-season records for receptions and yards, while helping to lead Lehigh into the FCS quarterfinals.
Spadola becomes Lehigh's first AFCA All-American since tight end Adam Bergen in 2004. The AFCA All-American team is voted on by the FCS Coaches.
The Howell, N.J. native has caught 96 passes for 1,614 yards and 11 touchdowns in 2011. He has set a school record for receptions and has set new Lehigh and Patriot League records in receiving yards. With Lehigh still alive in the FCS Playoffs, Spadola is just 98 yards away from the FCS single-season receiving record of 1,712 set by Delaware's Eddie Conti in 1998. Spadola ranks second in the FCS in receiving yards per game, averaging 134.5 yards per contest. He also ranks sixth in receptions, averaging eight per game.This season Spadola has four games with double-digit receptions and nine games where he eclipsed the 100 yard receiving mark. Spadola caught nine passes for a then-career-high 214 yards and three touchdowns in the Mountain Hawks' win at Princeton on September 17. A month later he hauled in 13 passes for 216 yards and a touchdown in Lehigh's win over Fordham. In Saturday's 40-38 second round playoff win over Towson, Spadola made 13 receptions for 152 yards and a touchdown and also rushed four times for 26 yards.
A two-time first team All-Patriot League selection, Spadola was named a third-team All-American by the Sports Network following a 1,130-yard, nine-touchdown season in 2010. Prior to this season, Spadola earned preseason All-America honors from Consensus Draft Services, Lindy's and the Sports Network.
In addition to his on-field work, Spadola was CoSIDA Academic All-District selection and a member of the Academic All-Patriot League team.
The Mountain Hawks are preparing for their FCS quarterfinal showdown at No. 2 national seed North Dakota State Saturday inside the Fargodome. Kickoff is set for just after 3 p.m. CST with live video coverage on ESPN3 and audio coverage on ESPN Radio 1230 and 1320 as well as Lehighsports.com.
2011 AFCA Football Championship Subdivision Coaches' All-America Team
Offense
Pos Name Ht. Wt. Cl. School
WR Ryan Spadola 6-3 205 Jr. Lehigh
WR Brian Quick 6-5 220 Sr. Appalachian St.
WR Nicholas Edwards 6-3 200 Jr. Eastern Washington
OL Gino Gradkowski 6-4 295 Sr. Delaware
OL Brett Moore 6-3 255 Sr. Georgia Southern
C Bryan Boemer 6-2 317 Sr. Southern Illinois
OL Paul Cornick 6-6 309 Sr. North Dakota St.
OL J.C. Oram 6-4 300 Sr. Weber St.
QB Bo Levi Mitchell 6-2 210 Sr. Eastern Washington
RB Shakir Bell 5-8 185 So. Indiana St.
RB Tim Flanders 5-9 210 So. Sam Houston St.
Defense
Pos Name Ht. Wt. Cl. School
DL Ronnie Cameron 6-2 295 Sr. Old Dominion
DL Andrew Schaetzke 6-4 245 Sr. Georgetown
DL Ben Boothby 6-0 280 Sr. Northern Iowa
DL Zack Nash 6-4 260 Sr. Sacramento St.
LB Tyler Holmes* 6-0 224 Sr. Massachusetts
LB Kadarron Anderson 6-1 234 Sr. Furman
LB Caleb McSurdy 6-1 242 Sr. Montana
DB Josh Norman 6-2 190 Sr. Coastal Carolina
DB Ryan Steed 5-11 188 Sr. Furman
DB Darnell Taylor 6-0 195 Jr. Sam Houston St.
DB Trumaine Johnson* 6-3 210 Sr. Montana
Specialists
Pos Name Ht. Wt. Cl. School
P David Harrington 6-2 185 Sr. Idaho St.
PK Zach Brown 6-1 200 Jr. Portland St.
AP Brock Jackolski 5-10 198 Sr. Stony Brook
*-2010 All-American
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