Tracey and Brown named All-America

Tracey and Brown earn All-American accolades

Smithfield, R.I. – Two key members of the 2011 Bryant University football team earned more praise, as senior tight end Matt Tracey (Littleton, Colo.) and junior running back Jordan Brown (Glastonbury, Conn.) were named All-Americans by Beyond Sports College Network on Thursday.

Tracey earned first team honors at tight end, while Brown was named to the second team as a running back. Tracey was one of three tight ends named to the first team and Brown was one of four second team running backs. Tracey joins Furman's Colin Anderson and Maine's Justin Perillo on the first team. Brown is joined on the second team by Matt Denham (Eastern Kentucky), Zach Bauman (Northern Arizona) and Miguel Maysonet (Stony Brook).

The All-American honor is the third postseason honor for Tracey, who was named First Team All-Northeast Conference and First Team All-New England in December. One of the best tight ends in program history, Tracey turned in a stellar senior campaign and emerged as one of the best tight ends in the country as he caught 40 passes for 500 yards and eight touchdowns. Along the way, he became the program leader in career touchdown receptions and just the second player to catch over 100 passes in a career. Tracey caught at least one pass in all 11 games, including a nine-catch, 97-yard, two-touchdown game against Robert Morris on Oct. 22 that helped Bryant defeat the Colonials on the road. He hauled in six passes for 70 yards in the season opener against Maine, three for 45 yards and two scores against Sacred Heart and five for 79 yards against Wagner. Tracey leaves Smithfield with 105 catches for 1,358 yards and 19 touchdowns.

The nation's leading rusher, Brown has already earned All-America status from The College Sports Network/Fathead.com, Northeast Conference Player of the Year honors and All-New England status. His junior season was one of the best in Bulldogs history as he led the nation in rushing yards (1,815) and rushing yards per game (165.0), was named to the Walter Payton Award Watch List and set nine program records along the way. The Connecticut native led the NEC in both rushing categories, rushing touchdowns (19), points (134), all-purpose yards (2,500) and all-purpose yards per game (227.3). Brown rushed for a career-high 248 yards against Sacred Heart on Sept. 16 and added two more 200-yard games on the season, including a 243-yard performance against Saint Francis (PA) on Nov. 12. On his way to setting program records for touchdowns in a season and total career touchdowns, Brown compiled eight multi-touchdown games. Brown scored three times in four of those eight contests and was held without a touchdown on just one occasion.

Bryant compiled a 7-4 record, including a 5-3 mark in the NEC, in its final year of reclassification. The Bulldogs will be eligible to compete in postseason competition during the fall of 2012.