Worcester, MA --- Junior return specialist Richie Dube (Shrewsbury, MA) has been selected as a Beyond Sports Network third-team preseason All-American.

Dube comes off a stellar first-year campaign that saw him return 23 kicks for a school-record 331 yards to go with one score – a 63 yard return for a touchdown in a triumph against Nichols. Dube led New England with an eye-popping 14.39 yards per punt return while he was also 15th in the final NCAA Division III statistical standings.  

Dube also finished with six kick returns for 98 yards, an average of 16.3 yards per kickoff.

Overall the New England Football Conference (NEFC) had 12 honorees including Paul Melicharek (DL – Glen Rock, NJ) of Bridgewater State, Rob Bandini (WR – Westwood, MA) of Curry, Mike Murray (WR – Chelmsford, MA) and Jason Silva (DB – Maynard, MA) of Endicott, James Muirhead (LB – Middleboro, MA) and Tyrone Notice (DB – Gardner, MA) of Framingham State and Jeff Winchell (TE – Scituate, RI) of Westfield State.

Western New England also had a trio of student-athletes recognized including Michael Graham (RET – Norwalk, CT), James Georges (DL – Stamford, CT) and Phil Tsopanides (DB – Fairfield, CT).

Graham was a first-teamer, Van Alstyne earned second-team honors while Georges, Muirhead, Silva and Winchell were all handed third-team laurels. Bambini, Murray, Melicharek, Notice and Tsopanides were all honorable mention selections.

The last player to earn preseason all-american accolades was All-New England linebacker Tyler Russell who earned Consensus Draft Services accolades and a nod to the Division III Senior Football Classic watch list in the summer of 2010. Russell finished that season leading Division III in solo tackles (92) while he was second nationally in total (167) and average (16.7).

2012 Beyond Sports Network Division III Preseason All-American Team