Benedictine's Borsellino Earns Second Consecutive AFCA Award

For the second consecutive season, Benedictine University running back John Borsellino has earned NCAA Division III All-America status, capping his tenure at Benedictine with another selection as the all-purpose player on the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) NCAA Division III team, announced today.

Despite being game-planned against and often kicked away from, the Oak Brook native still accumulated nearly 2,000 all-purpose yards, ranking seventh nationally despite having the opportunity to return only two kicks after the first three games of the year. Borsellino finished as the team leader in rushing and return yardage while also leading the team in receptions. Borsellino gained 928 yards on the ground with six touchdowns on 197 carries. The senior caught 48 passes for a total of 440 yards with three touchdowns and also added 421 yards on kick returns and 127 on punt returns with a kickoff return for a touchdown.

The 2012 season marked the third straight of more than 10 touchdowns for Borsellino, who finished as the program's all-time leader in touchdowns, scoring, and rushing attempts. Borsellino registered five games of 100 yards or more rushing, four of which resulted in victories for the 5-5 Eagles. The product of Montini Catholic High School raced for a career high 220 yards with two scores in a senior day win over Maranatha Baptist Bible College.

Bottled up on the ground in the home opener, a non-conference homecoming tilt with Albion College who just a week prior had beaten Wheaton College, Borsellino helped ignite another memorable comeback victory. Trailing 28-7 at the half, Benedictine held Albion scoreless while rallying to win 32-28.

Borsellino, a First Team All-Northern Athletics Conference selection for the third consecutive season, scored a pair of third quarter touchdowns in the game on passing plays while returning a kick 77 yards for the go ahead score early in the fourth. Borsellino finished the game with nine catches for 155 yards and 324 all-purpose yards, his second consecutive game of over 300 all-purpose yards after racking up 335 in a win over North Park.

Last year, Borsellino became just the fourth player in school history and the first since 1993 to earn All-America status. Borsellino enjoyed a record setting 2011 campaign for Benedictine, establishing new single season standards for rushing attempts, yards, and total touchdowns while ranking second nationally in all-purpose yardage. Borsellino, who is the first repeat All-American in conference history and one of just three repeat players on the AFCA team, began his career at Benedictine as a slot receiver before switching to running back in 2010.

Since 1945, the American Football Coaches Association has selected an All-America team. What makes this team special is that it is the only one selected exclusively by the men who know the most about the players, the coaches themselves. The AFCA selects a 25-player team in each of its five divisions.