Bucknell Football's Bryce Robertson Named a First Team All-American by The Sports Network
12/19/2011 7:00:00 AM | Football
Dec. 19, 2011
LEWISBURG, Pa. –Just four days after being named to the Associated Press All-America Second Team, Bucknell football's record-setting defensive back Bryce Robertson (Reserve, La./East St. John) on Monday was named a First Team All-American by The Sports Network. The senior is the first Bison to be honored by The Sports Network since future NFLer Sean Conover was recognized with a second-team certificate in 2004, and just the fourth Bucknell player overall to be cited.
A First Team All-Patriot League selection this fall, Robertson put together a headline-grabbing final campaign at Bucknell. He led all of college football with 13 interceptions, posted 39 tackles and tied for the team lead with six pass breakups. Robertson had at least one interception in nine of the Bison's final 10 outings, and he posted four multi-interception contests, including three straight at one point.
A four-year starter, Robertson's 13 interceptions broke the 24-year-old Patriot League mark of nine and the 41-year-old Bucknell mark of 10 that had previously been held by Bucknell Athletics Hall of Famer Gene Luccarelli. Robertson was the only FCS player to reach double figures in interceptions this year, while North Carolina State's David Amerson, who leads FBS with 10 picks, was the only other player in all of college football to reach double figures.
Robertson came one interception shy of the FCS single-season record of 14, held by Bethune-Cookman's Rashean Mathis since 2002. Robertson, who averaged 1.18 interceptions per game in 2011, just missed out on the FCS record of 1.20 by Princeton's Dean Cain in 1987.
Robertson spearheaded a Bucknell defense that forced an FCS-high 39 turnovers and led the country in turnover margin (+2.45). In fact, Robertson had more interceptions than the Bison had turnovers (12).
Thanks to a program single-season record 184 interception return yards, Robertson piled up a career-high 346 all-purpose yards in 2011. He also returned 18 punts for 140 yards, both career highs.
One of two Bison named to the Academic All-Patriot League Football Team this year, Robertson, a management major, concluded his career with 148 tackles. He appeared in 41 career games and made 37 starts.
In addition to his Patriot League honors this year, Robertson recently earned the C. Dale Wolfe Recognition Award at the program's annual awards banquet. The honor is given to the most inspirational player on the team.
Robertson joins Ed Burman (1995 – 2nd team), Kevin Eiben (2000 – 3rd team) and Conover (2004 – 2nd team) as Bison to earn The Sports Network All-America honors since the award was started in 1987.
Robertson was joined on the First Team by fellow Patriot League players Andrew Schaetzke (Georgetown) and Ryan Spadola (Lehigh). Lehigh's Chris Lum will be either the first or second team quarterback, but that won't be announced until Jan. 6. Two other Patriot Leaguers showed up on the third team, giving the conference six total honorees.
Robertson helped the Bison to a 6-5 record in 2011, a five-win turnaround from 2010.
FIRST-TEAM OFFENSE: QB - Bo Levi Mitchell, Eastern Washington, Sr., or Chris Lum, Lehigh, Sr.; RB - Shakir Bell, Indiana State, So.; Terrance West, Towson, Fr.; FB - Eric Breitenstein, Wofford, Jr.; WR - Aaron Mellette, Elon, Jr.; Nicholas Edwards, Eastern Washington, Jr.; Ryan Spadola, Lehigh, Jr.; TE - Colin Anderson, Furman, Jr.; OT - Chris Crockett, Sam Houston State, Sr.; Brett Moore, Georgia Southern, Sr.; OG - Gino Gradkowski, Delaware, Sr.; Nate Page, Wofford, Sr.; C - Travis Watson, Sam Houston State, Sr.; PK - Zach Brown, Portland State, Sr.; KR - Kevin Fogg, Liberty, Jr.
FIRST-TEAM DEFENSE: DE - Adrian Hamilton, Prairie View A&M, Sr.; Andrew Schaetzke, Georgetown, Sr.; DT - Ronnie Cameron, Old Dominion, Sr.; Brent Russell, Georgia Southern, Jr.; LB - Wes Dothard, Chattanooga, So.; Matt Evans, New Hampshire, Jr.; L.J. Fort, Northern Iowa, Sr.; Caleb McSurdy, Montana, Sr.; CB - Bryce Robertson, Bucknell, Sr.; Marcus Williams, North Dakota State, So.; S - Kejuan Riley, Alabama State, Jr.; Darnell Taylor, Sam Houston State, Jr.; P - David Harrington, Idaho State, Sr.; C.J. Estelle, UT Martin, Sr.
SECOND-TEAM OFFENSE: QB - Bo Levi Mitchell, Eastern Washington, Sr., or Chris Lum, Lehigh, Sr.; RB - Tim Flanders, Sam Houston State, So.; Jonathan Grimes, William & Mary, Sr.; FB - Jake Romanelli, Cal Poly, Sr.; WR - Tim Benford, Tennessee Tech, Sr.; Brian Quick, Appalachian State, Sr.; Rodrick Rumble, Idaho State, Jr.; TE - Kyle Juszczyk, Harvard, Jr.; OT - Paul Cornick, North Dakota State, Sr.; Blake Matthews, Norfolk State, Jr.; OG - D.J. Hall, Texas State, Sr.; J.C. Oram, Weber State, Sr.; C - Bryan Boemer, Southern Illinois, Sr.; PK - Tyler Sievertsen, Northern Iowa, So.; KR - Laron Scott, Georgia Southern, Sr.
SECOND-TEAM DEFENSE: DE - Ryan Davis, Bethune-Cookman, Sr.; Willie Jefferson, Stephen F. Austin, So.; DT - Ben Boothby, Northern Iowa, Sr.; Zach Minter, Montana State, Jr.; LB - Seth Allison, Central Arkansas, Jr.; Jeremy Kimbrough, Appalachian State, Jr.; Blake Pfeifer, SE Missouri State, So.; Keith Pough, Howard, Jr.; CB - Trumaine Johnson, Montana, Sr.; Josh Norman, Coastal Carolina, Sr.; S - Justin Bethel, Presbyterian, Sr.; Alex Sewall, Indiana State, Sr.; P - Jonathan Plisco, Old Dominion, Jr.; PR - Darius Carey, McNeese State, Jr.
THIRD-TEAM OFFENSE: QB - Casey Brockman, Murray State, Jr.; RB - Jordan Brown, Bryant, Jr.; Miguel Maysonet, Stony Brook, Jr.; FB - Brock Lough, Indiana State, Sr.; WR - Tre Gray, Richmond, Sr.; Chris Summers, Liberty, Sr.; Patrick Walker, Northern Colorado, Sr.; TE - Renty Rollins, Jackson State, Sr.; OT - Conrad Burbank, Montana State, Sr.; Tom Compton, South Dakota, Sr.; Orry Frye, Appalachian State, Sr.; OG - Joe Faiella, Stony Brook, Sr.; Scott Schweitzer, Tennessee Tech, Sr.; C - Jim Liebler, Lehigh, Sr.; PK - Adrian Mora, Georgia Southern, Sr.; KR - Austin Minefee, Southern Utah, Sr.
THIRD-TEAM DEFENSE: DE - Corey Hart, Alabama A&M, Sr.; Ben Obaseki, Indiana State, Jr.; DT - Emory Attig, Eastern Kentucky, Jr.; Josue Ortiz, Harvard, Sr.; LB - Rico Council, Tennessee State, Sr.; Jody Owens, Montana State, Jr.; Alvin Scioneaux, Wofford, Jr.; A.J. Storms, Idaho State, Sr.; CB - Asa Jackson, Cal Poly, Sr.; Ryan Steed, Furman, Sr.; S - Jose Gumbs, Monmouth, Sr.; Serge Kona, Duquesne, Jr.; P - Patrick Murray, Fordham, Jr.; PR - Jabin Sambrano, Montana, Sr.