Freed (Souderton/Souderton) is the first ESU football player to earn two Academic All-America honors and just the second student-athlete in school history with two selections on an Academic All-America first team. He joins field hockey player Katie Horst, a first team selection on the women’s at-large ballot in 1998 and 1999.
Freed, a History major with a 3.74 grade-point average, is one of five repeat selections on the first team in the College Division, which represents all Division II, Division III and NAIA institutions in the country. The Academic All-America teams are chosen from the first team Academic All-District selections from eight regions across the nation. The program is selected and administered by members of CoSIDA (College Sports Information Directors of America).
Freed finished his senior season with 120 tackles, 14 tackles for a loss and 7.5 sacks, giving him 399 tackles, 45 TFL and 22.5 sacks in his career as a three-year starter. He is third in ESU history in career tackles and had double-figure tackles in 24 of his 34 starts, including eight times as a senior.
He was the only defensive player among the 24 candidates for the Harlon Hill Award, given to the top player in Division II football, and is one of the top athletes and student-athletes in the country.
Freed’s honors to date on the gridiron include mention on the Daktronics Division II first team and AP Little All-America third team for two straight seasons, recognition as the Daktronics Super Region One Defensive Player of the Year in 2009 and two straight first team All-PSAC East selections.
Academically, Freed is a three-time first team Academic All-District selection, was named to the PSAC Fall Top 10 for athletic and academic achievement last year, and was one of 12 semifinalists from Division II in the running for the William V. Campbell Trophy which is awarded by the National Football Foundation.
Freed can become the first three-time AP Little All-American in school history when the teams are announced next month. He is also a strong candidate for All-America recognition from Daktronics and the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA).
The Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) is represented by four players on this year’s Academic All-America team, all on the first team defense. Freed is joined by Mercyhurst linebacker Bryan Boyce and defensive back Ian Wild and Clarion defensive back Nick Sipes.
ESU has had 21 student-athletes combine for 29 Academic All-America citations in school history. Freed is one of six student-athletes who have received the honor multiple times. A total of five football players have earned Academic All-America status – Freed (2009-10, 1st team, LB), Matt Crispell (2004, 1st team, DB), Ed Detwiler (1992, 2nd team, P), Ernie Siegrist (1984, 1st team, TE) and Warren Brown (1979, 2nd team, LB).
Academic All-America College Division 1st Team
Offense
QB – Clay Garcia, Colorado School of Mines
RB – Isaac Odim, Minnesota-Duluth
RB – Ben Wartman, St. Thomas (Minn.)
WR – ZaVious Robbins, Hardin-Simmons
WR – Chad Schockley, Missouri Science & Tech
TE – Robert Carlisle, Allegheny
OL – Dan Chapman, St. Thomas (Minn.)
OL – Ralph Curiel, Wingate
OL – Jared Kawadler, Bentley
OL – Greg Kurkis, Washington & Lee
OL – Will Vega-Brown, MIT
K – T.J. Chiarolanza, Lycoming
Defense
DL – Cory Beran, Chadron State
DL – Richard Doolin, Case Western Reserve
DL – Ryan Schmid, U.S. Coast Guard Academy
DL – Mark Sullivan, Kenyon
LB – Bryan Boyce, Mercyhurst
LB – Matt Freed, ESU
LB – John Mago, Augustana (Ill.)
DB – Kyle DeMus, Elmhurst
DB – Brian Doyle, MIT
DB – Nick Sipes, Clarion
DB – Ian Wild, Mercyhurst
P – Richard Pattison, Carnegie Mellon
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