After a disappointing 2011-12 campaign in which the Colonial football team finished 2-9 and eighth in the final Northeast Conference standings, six Colonials earned postseason accolades as the All-NEC Team was announced Nov. 23.
Earning All-NEC First Team honors were senior offensive lineman Brad Rodgers and junior defensive lineman Nolan Nearhoof.
Rodgers started 31 (33 overall) consecutive games along the offensive line as he helped pave the way for all-time leading rusher Myles Russ (2007-10). Nearhoof earned his second postseason accolade despite missing the final two games with a knee injury, and led the team in sacks with seven and-a-half and finished fourth in tackles with 60.
Earning All-NEC Second Team honors were senior tight end Shadrae King, senior return man Anthony Coleman and junior safety Cameron Chadwick.
King earned his third postseason award as he will go down as the greatest tight end in program history. King owns records in receptions (145) and consecutive games with a catch (30) as he also finished his career tied with former wide receiver Tyjuan Massey (2002-05) for most touchdown receptions all-time with 21. This season, King established a new single season reception record with 51 as he finished his Colonial career ranked second all-time in receiving yards with 1,698 yards behind only Massey.
In his first season at RMU, junior college transfer Chadwick stepped into the starting lineup after the first week and went on to lead the Colonial defense with 80 tackles (32 solo) to go along with one interception and four passes defended.
Coleman earned his first postseason honor as a return man. This past season, Coleman broke his own single-season record for kickoff returns (41) and kickoff return yards (952). Coleman also owns records for his 110 career kickoff returns for 2,422 while he is tied for fourth all-time in all-purpose yards with running back Tim Hall (1994-97) with 3,701.
In addition to the postseason awards, four Colonial seniors will play in the Second Annual Football Championship Series (FCS) Senior Scout Bowl in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina on Saturday Dec. 17 at 1 pm at Doug Shaw Stadium. The Scout Bowl was established to give FCS players a chance to show case their skills for NFL scouts. King, Miles, Rodgers and Coleman will be among the 86 invitees to participate in the North v South game.
