ESU Academic Awards page

EAST STROUDSBURG – East Stroudsburg University redshirt senior wide receiver Robert Bleiler has been named to the Capital One Academic All-America Division II second team for the 2013 football season, it was announced Wednesday.

Bleiler (Dillsburg/Northern), an All-PSAC East first team selection and a semifinalist for the Campbell Trophy from the National Football Foundation earlier this fall, is one of six PSAC student-athletes on the Academic All-America first or second team.

A Mathematics and Secondary Education major with a 3.45 grade-point average, Bleiler ranked third in the PSAC in the regular season in receiving yards (109.0 ypg) and touchdowns (12), and fourth in receptions per game (6.5). He had 71 catches for 1,199 yards, including six 100-yard receiving games, and had seven catches for 230 yards and two TD vs. Lock Haven.

In three games against the PSAC East tri-champions, Bleiler had 22 catches for 330 yards and five TD – 9 for 115 yards and 2 TD at Shippensburg, 5 for 85 yards and 1 TD at West Chester, and 8 for 130 yards and 2 TD vs. Bloomsburg.

Bleiler ranks third on ESU's single-season list in receiving yards, fourth in catches and tied for fifth in touchdowns. In his career, he finishes fourth in yards (2,614), tied for fifth in catches (153) and tied for sixth in TD's (20).

In his 230-yard game against Lock Haven, he caught a 99-yard touchdown pass from redshirt sophomore Matt Soltes to tie a school record. He also had a 97-yard TD from Ray Wagner in the 2011 season opener vs. Pace and is the only receiver in PSAC history with two career TD of 95+ yards.

Bleiler was the key target in an ESU offense that ranked second in the PSAC in both scoring offense (40.8 ppg) and total offense (508.1 ypg).

He is the sixth ESU football player to earn Academic All-America honors and the first since linebacker Matt Freed, who was named to the first team in 2009 and 2010. Other recipients were defensive back Matt Crispell (1st team) in 2004, kicker/punter Ed Detwiler (2nd team) in 1992, tight end Ernie Siegrist (1st team) in 1984, and linebacker Warren Brown (2nd team) in 1979.

Bleiler is also the third ESU student-athlete to be named Academic All-America this fall, joining men's soccer players Nemanja Nikolic and Khriswayne Wallace. He is the 33rd ESU student-athlete to earn Academic All-America status in school history.

He was one of two PSAC players, along with Edinboro quarterback Cody Harris, and one of 24 players in Division II named to the Campbell Trophy semifinal list in early October.

Bleiler and redshirt junior defensive tackle Bryan Thomson were named to the Academic All-District list for Super Region 1 on November 7. The Academic All-District program is the precursor to Academic All-America honors.

Bleiler is joined on the Academic All-America team by five other players from the PSAC – first team selections Mike Felker (Clarion, OL), Colin Kimball (Mercyhurst, DB), Tyler Zimmer (Seton Hill, LB) and Cody Crosby (Gannon, P), and second team selection John Matarazzo (Mercyhurst, TE).

ESU's 33 Academic All-Americans have combined for a total of 46 selections since 1979.


About the Academic All-District and Academic All-America Program

ESU is second in the PSAC with 66 Academic All-District selections in the last six years (2007-08 through 2012-13).

During the 2012-13 academic year, the Warriors had eight Academic All-Americans and 11 student-athletes named to Academic All-District teams.

The Academic All-District and All-America teams recognize student-athletes for athletic and academic achievement and are nominated and voted on by members of CoSIDA (College Sports Information Directors of America).

This marks the third year that separate teams have been selected for Division II, Division III and College Division (NAIA/Canadian schools/two-year schools) institutions. The previous "College Division" included all DII, DIII, Canadian and junior college programs.

The All-District teams follow the NCAA's regional model on a sport-by-sport basis. In football, Super Region 1 includes all schools from the PSAC (Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference), Mountain East Conference, CIAA (Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association) and Northeast-10 Conference.