Although the football team may not have headed the NESCAC standings at the conclusion of the 2006 campaign, coaches around the league still recognized three members of the squad for their accomplishments on the field.
Junior fullback Kevin Anderson and senior quad-captain Chris Decembrele, a defensive end, were selected to the First Team, while senior center Ryan McGeary made the Second Team.
For the most part, Anderson's talents went under the radar this fall. While he gained just 65 yards all season, the fullback was still a major part of Tufts' running game, thanks to his ability to block for the Jumbos' other ball carriers. Anderson rebounded from a broken left wrist in a preseason scrimmage against Bowdoin, playing through the pain while wearing a cast for most of the season.
Receiving the third-straight selection of his collegiate career, Decembrele finished the season with 64 tackles, placing him seventh in the league. The Jumbo defensive end led his team in tackles his last three seasons, and left his mark on his Tufts football as one of the best defensive players in program history.
"Whenever you are recognized by the league as one of its best, it's an honor," Decembrele said. "It is great to see all your hard work pay off and be appreciated by people around the NESCAC, and it is a tribute to the Tufts football program."
For McGeary, the selection was his first ever All-NESCAC nod, and is the cherry on top of a solid career on both the offensive and defensive lines. This season, McGeary unselfishly made the switch from defensive lineman to center, to help bolster a running game that was crucial in the team's four victories.
- by Ben Simon
