After a 6-2 season and its second top-three finish in the NESCAC since 1991, the football team placed seven members on the two All-Conference teams. Four Jumbos earned first team honors, while three were selected to the second team.
Leading the pack was junior running back Keven Kelley, who was named to the All-NESCAC first team on offense. Kelley led the conference in rushing with 1,079 yards on 231 carries, an average of 134.9 per came, and rushing touchdowns with eight. In the season finale against Colby on Nov. 10, Kelley ran for 136 yards to break the Tufts single reason rushing record, formerly held by Paul Dresens. Dresens rushed for 1,070 yards in 1988 - the last time a Jumbo had run for over 1,000 yards prior to this fall. In total, Kelley racked up five 100-yard rushing games.
Also named to the offensive first team was senior co-captain and offensive lineman Mike Willey. Willey, a four-year starter who was second team All-NESCAC last year, anchored an offensive line that produced 227 yards on the ground per contest. Overall, the Jumbo running game ranked first in the NESCAC and 21st in the nation. Junior Adam Collette, also an offensive lineman, was named to the All-NESCAC second team.
Two sophomores, Mark Tilki and Caleb Hudak, were the Jumbos' other first team honorees. Tilki was the only first team selection for special teams play, after averaging 23.2 yards returning kickoffs, recovering a fumble on a kickoff, and blocking two punts. Tilki, who doubles as a cornerback, also led the Jumbos with four interceptions. Hudak, a defensive tackle, was selected to the defensive first team after leading Tufts in both sacks (four) and tackles for losses (seven). In a 9-7 win against Trinity on Oct. 13, Hudak recorded ten tackles and had a fumble recovery that set up the Jumbos' only score of the afternoon. He ranked fourth on the squad with 41 total tackles.
Senior co-captain Scott Mittenthal, a linebacker, and junior cornerback Evan Zupancic joined Collette on the second team. Mittenthal was the Jumbos' top tackler with 59, including 15 against Trinity. Zupancic ranked sixth in tackles (37) and third in interceptions (three). Returning kicks, Zupancic averaged 9.9 yards and scored one touchdown on punts, and averaged 14.8 on kickoffs.
