January 14, 2004
MEDFORD – Senior Mark Tilki (Derby, CT/Derby HS) concluded an exceptional senior season for the Tufts University Football team by earning recognition on the D3Football.Com 2003 All-America Third Team as a return specialist. Honored by numerous regional conferences and organizations, this is the lone national honor Tilki earned.
A veteran all-star return man for the Jumbos, Tilki set the tone for the 2003 season when he returned a kickoff 96 yards for a touchdown at Hamilton on September 20. The play followed a Hamilton touchdown that had given the Continentals life in the fourth quarter. Tilki squashed it with his first career kickoff return for a touchdown.
Tilki finished the season third in the country with a 31.2 kickoff return average. He took 11 kicks back for a total of 343 yards yards. In addition to the 96-yard touchdown, he had a 46-yard return against Trinity on October 11.
His 10.6 yards per punt return placed 56th in the nation. He had a 44-yard return against Amherst on October 25 and took one back 57 yards at Colby on November 1.
Tilki was also named the ECAC Division III Northeast First Team return specialist and the New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) First Team return specialist. In 2002, Tilki was the NESCAC First Team return man. As a sophomore in 2001 he was NESCAC First Team and All-ECAC Northeast honorable mention.
Also a starting cornerback for the Jumbos, Tilki led the team with five interceptions, including two he returned for touchdowns. He was selected as the Gridiron Club of Greater Boston's Division II-III Defensive Player of the Year. The Jumbos finished 5-3 in a tie for third place in NESCAC under Head Coach Bill Samko.
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