Vallone, Savage Garner Freshmen All-America Honors
Dec 08 | Football
PISCATAWAY, N.J. – (December 8, 2009) – Rutgers redshirt freshman defensive tackle Scott Vallone (Central Islip, N.Y.) and true freshman quarterback Tom Savage (Springfield, Pa.) were named to Phil Steele’s 2009 All-Freshmen Team Tuesday. Vallone was named to Phil Steele’s Freshmen All-America first team at defensive tackle while Savage was the magazine’s third team Freshmen All-America quarterback.
Vallone has become a major force on Rutgers’ defensive line in his first year as a starter. The New York native has started 11 of the 12 games he has played in. On the season, he has 36 tackles, 7 TFL, 0.5 sacks and six quarterback hurries.
Savage has started 10 games at quarterback for the Scarlet Knights and has thrown for more yards and touchdowns than any true freshman quarterback in BIG EAST history. Savage also ranks third nationally among true freshmen quarterbacks in touchdown passes (12) and fourth nationally among true freshmen quarterbacks in passing yards (1,917).
Phil Steele also announced his All-BIG EAST selections and 11 players collected all-conference honors.
Senior WR Tim Brown (Miami, Fla.), sophomore offensive guard Art Forst (Manasquan, N.J.), junior offensive tackle Anthony Davis (Piscataway, N.J.) and senior CB Devin McCourty (Nanuet, N.Y.) earned All-BIG EAST first team honors from Phil Steele.
Steele’s All-BIG EAST second team included junior DE Jonathan Freeny (Tampa, Fla.) and junior DE Alex Silvestro (Gibbstown, N.J.).
Six Scarlet Knights were selected to Steele’s All-BIG EAST third team. On offense, sophomore RB Joe Martinek (Hopatcong, N.J.) and true freshman WR Mohamed Sanu (South Brunswick, N.J.) were named third-team all-conference. On the defensive side of the ball, senior DE George Johnson (Glassboro, N.J.), senior LB Ryan D’Imperio (Sewell, N.J.) and junior SS Joe Lefeged (Germantown, Md.) were named to the squad.
McCourty also collected third-team honors as a kick returner in addition to his first-team accolades at cornerback.
Rutgers closes out the 2009 season Saturday, December 19 in the St. Petersburg Bowl vs. UCF. The Scarlet Knights look to win their fourth straight bowl as Rutgers plays in its fifth consecutive bowl for the first time in school history. Kickoff is set for 8 p.m. with live television coverage on ESPN.
To order tickets to the St. Petersburg Bowl, please visit scarletknights.com or call the Rutgers Ticket Office at 1-866-445-GORU. Fans can also purchase tickets in-person at the Rutgers Ticket Office, located in the Rutgers Athletic Center, Monday-Friday from 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m.
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