Teams: Football: Press Releases

Tuesday, January 6, 2009

THREE FROM FOOTBALL TEAM AMONG ECAC NORTHEAST ALL-STARS

MEDFORD -- Freshman defensive end Donnie Simmons (Houston, TX) was named the 2008 ECAC Division III Northeast Football Rookie of the Year, and fellow defensive stalwarts Tyson Reynoso (Bellevue, ID) and Tom Tassinari (North Andover, MA) were selected to the ECAC All-Northeast Team as the Tufts football program had three players recognized by the organization this year.

Simmons, the New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) Rookie of the Year and the first freshman named to the All-NESCAC first team in over two decades, had 3.5 sacks and 8.5 tackles for losses among his 41 total stops during the 2008 season. He also intercepted a pass, forced a fumble, recovered a fumble and blocked a kick for Coach Bill Samko's Jumbos.

Reynoso, a three-year starter at linebacker, led Tufts in tackles with 73 (43 solo) this year. He also had the first interception of his career on Seniors' Day to seal a 17-10 victory against Colby College. Three times he surpassed 10 tackles in a game, including an outstanding 17 stops in the season finale at Middlebury.

Tassinari, a junior safety, was the most honored Jumbo of the season with All-NESCAC, D3football.com and New England Football Writers team honors to his credit as well. He had 127 interception return yards on five picks this fall. Voted to the All-NESCAC first team for the second straight year, he had three interceptions in the Middlebury game.

► 2008 ECAC  Northeast Football All-Stars

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Tom Tassinari

Tyson Reynoso

Donnie Simmons