Amherst's Hannon, Zieler Tabbed ECAC Division III All-Star Honorable Mention, Spinnato, Smith Named D3football.com Third-Team All-East Region

December 9 , 2005

AMHERST, MA - Amherst College juniors Mark Hannon (Glen Rock, NJ/Glen Rock) and Ryan Smith (Muskego, WI/Muskego), and seniors Nick Zieler (Chicago, IL/Brother Rice) and L.J. Spinnato (Madison, CT/Daniel Hand) all added to their list of postseason football accolades on Friday, as Hannon and Zieler earned Eastern College Athletic Conference Division III Northeast All-Star Honorable Mention, while Spinnato and Smith took home D3football.com All-East Region honors.

Hannon was named the NESCAC Offensive Player of the Year and claimed first-team all-conference plaudits as a wide receiver and a return specialist after leading the NESCAC in all-purpose yards (1,185), touchdowns (10) and punt return average (10.9). He also ranked among the conference leaders in several other categories including receptions (32), receiving yards (516) and punt average (33.9). A versatile threat all-season, Hannon lined up at wide receiver, running back, quarterback and punt and kick returner, and he found the end zone in a variety of ways, hauling in four through the air, scoring five on the ground and one by way of punt return.

Zieler was also a First-Team All-NESCAC honoree after an outstanding year in the Amherst secondary. He posted 26 tackles, an interception and five pass breakups, while delivering some of the most menacing hits in New England this season. Spinnato claimed his second straight First-Team All-NESCAC honor after a career-season at nose guard. He finished with 49 tackles, good for 31st in the conference and fourth on the team, and also racked up 4.5 tackles-for-loss, a sack, a fumble recovery and a blocked kick. The pair led the Jeffs to the fifth-ranked defense in the nation, surrendering 240.1 yards per game and only 12.3 points per game. The Jeff secondary also boasted the No. 10 pass efficiency defense in the country (87.9).

Smith anchored an offensive line that paved the way for one of the NESCAC's top offensive units (391.5 ypg), and has been a three-year starter for the Jeffs. His play has kept the Amherst offense among the best in the region throughout his career.

The Jeffs finished 5-3 on the season.