Moon Township, PA -- Junior defensive lineman Nolan Nearhoof (Gibsonia, Pa. / Mars Area) of the Robert Morris University football team was honored Thursday by being named to the 2011 Capital One Academic All-America Second Team as selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA).
It marks the second straight honor for Nearhoof, who was also tabbed to the 2010 Capital One Aacademic All-America Second Team.
Nearhoof joins former defensive lineman Ray Gensler (2003-06) as the only players in school history to be named a CoSIDA Academic All-American twice. Gensler earned second team accolades in 2005, followed by first team honors in 2006.
Overall, three student-athletes from the football program have earned Academic All-America status from CoSIDA five times. In addition to the honors for Nearhoof and Gensler, former linebacker Jonathan LeDonne (2001-04) was named to the 2004 ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America First Team.
One of three defensive linemen named to the 2011 Capital One Academic All-America Second Team, Nearhoof joins Jake Bequette of Arkansas and Matt Milner of East Carolina on the squad.
Nearhoof appeared in nine games in 2011 for Robert Morris and finished fourth on the team in tackles with 60, including 24 solo stops. He led the Colonials in sacks (7.5) and tackles for loss (12.5), totals that were good enough to rank fourth and sixth, respectively, in the Northeast Conference.
A biology major and a member of the 2011 All-NEC First Team, Nearhoof owns a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.87. He also finished with two pass breakups, three quarterback hurries and a pair of fumble recoveries for RMU in 2011.
Entering his final season of eligibility in 2012, Nearhoof is RMU's active leader in career tackles with 137 and owns 16 career sacks, which is tied for fourth all-time at Robert Morris with former defensive lineman Brad Kirit (1997-2000).
Nearhoof needs just four sacks next season to establish a new career record in the category, as Gensler owns the mark with 19.