Six Cardinals honored by USA Football News with preseason honors
WASHINGTON – USA Football News announced its preseason All-American and All-Region Teams on Friday, and CUA had six student-athletes selected. Greg Cordivari, Andrew Ouellette, Mike O'Shea, Kody Jones, Rob Schaetzl, and Conor Stueckler were the six Cardinals honored as honorable mention All-Americans, in addition to All-Region selections.
Cordivari receives his second preseason All-American nod after Beyond College Sports Network (BSN) released its honorees in June. An All-ODAC selection in 2011, Cordivari set new school records for completions (321) and attempts (505), while also establishing single game records for completions (46) and attempts (67) a season ago.
Cordivari finished the season ranked seventh nationally in total offense, averaging 315.5 yards per game.
One of Cordivari's top targets through the air was Ouellette, who led the Cardinals with 54 receptions, 661 receiving yards and five touchdowns. The Massachusetts native also returned a team-high 29 kicks for 710 yards and a score.
Ouellette went over the 100-yard receiving mark four times last season, including a 12-catch, 111-yard performance in a win over Emory & Henry.
An All-ODAC and All-Region selection as a sophomore, O'Shea helped to anchor a CUA offensive line that paved the way for the nation's fourth most prolific passing attack. Along with Jones, another All-ODAC honoree, they helped to strengthen what was an inexperienced line.
The CUA O-line allowed only 13 sacks all of last season, none of which were surrendered by O'Shea. The Cardinals racked up over 400 yards of total offense in six games, including a high of 473 at McDaniel.
Schaetzl finished third in tackles for CUA with 59, to go along with 3.5 for loss and a sack. The defensive lineman posted eight games with five or more tackles, including a season-high nine vs. Randolph-Macon.
Schaetzl finished with five tackles, including two for loss, in a win at Apprentice School and he closed out the season with seven tackles and a half-sack against Bridgewater.
Stueckler followed up a strong freshman campaign by leading the Cards with 95 tackles in 2011. He also totaled 2.5 tackles for loss, two interceptions, a pair of fumble recoveries and a sack. Stueckler registered a career-high 16 tackles vs. Washington & Lee and followed that up with a 13-stop performance the very next week vs. Guilford.
Stueckler made 10 or more tackles in three games and intercepted passes vs. Apprenctice School and Guilford.
The Cardinals are currently hard at work in preseason camp. CUA will open the 2012 season on Friday, August 31 when it plays host to McDaniel inside Cardinal Stadium. Kick-off is set for 7 p.m.
