Fusco received the most votes among the 10 candidates in the Super Region One portion of the competition. He and Malcolm Jenkins, a senior defensive end from Elizabeth City (N.C.) State University, the No. 2 finisher in the Super Region One voting, will join the top two candidates from three other NCAA Division II super regions on the national ballot.
The 2010 Upshaw Award winner will be announced in December and will receive his award at the banquet for the Texas vs. The Nation all-star game (Feb. 5, 2011, in San Antonio, Texas).
This year’s Upshaw Award winner is assured of a spot on one of the rosters for the Texas vs. The Nation all-star game, as well as the East/West Shrine Game (Jan. 22, 2011, in Orlando, Fla.).
Fusco has already been invited to play in the Texas vs. The Nation game and is on the "watch list" for the East/West Shrine, Senior Bowl and Cactus Bowl (Division II) all-star games.
Fusco received 17 first-place votes and was listed first or second on 24 of the 39 ballots cast in the regional competition. He accumulated 137 points in the voting, while Jenkins scored 114 points.
A 6-foot-5, 310-pound native of Cranberry Township, Pa. and graduate of Seneca Valley High School, Fusco is ranked fourth among NFL Draft-eligible centers in the nation by CBSSports.com and is the only Division II player ranked in the top five draft prospects at any position. He is projected to be a fifth-round NFL draft pick.
The Upshaw Award national finalist honor is the latest addition to an impressive collection of awards received by the two-time Rock team captain and 2009 Offensive MVP.
Fusco earned first-team Preseason All-America honors last summer from The Sporting News, Consensus Draft Services, D2Football.com and D2PRODAY.com. Last week, he received first-team All-Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference-Western Division honors for third consecutive season.
Fusco was the foundation of a Rock offensive line that opened holes for redshirt sophomore running back Akeem Satterfield, the No. 1 scorer/No. 2 rusher in the PSAC and the No. 3 scorer/No. 5 rusher in the nation.
A year ago, in addition to being named to first-team all-conference status, Fusco received second-team All-America honors from Don Hansen's Football Gazette, first-team all-region honors from the Football Gazette and Daktronics Inc. and sfinished third in the Super Region One Upshaw Award voting.
Fusco started 44 consecutive games for The Rock; he did not miss a single game during his four-year collegiate career.
What they’re saying about Brandon Fusco:
“... He has good enough feet to reach linebackers or safeties, even after ripping under the shoulder of the nose tackle to wall him off. Once in space, he uses the correct block to negate defenders downfield. Linebackers find it very difficult to unhitch from the Rock’s star center once he latches on. ... In a year where potential starting centers with size will be tough to find in the later rounds, some teams should take a chance on Fusco.”
– Chad Reuter, NFLDraftScout.com
“I played with four NFL first-round draft picks and six guys who got drafted while I was playing at Boston College and he’s right there with them in terms of ability, strength and athleticism. There’s no doubt in my mind that, at the time I left N.C. State to come here, Brandon would have been the best offensive lineman on our team there. That’s not a knock on the guys at N.C. State, that just tells you what kind of a player Brandon is. He’s a legitimate NFL prospect.”
– Slippery Rock University Defensive Line Coach Al Washington
“Since I played (at the University of Pittsburgh in the early 1970s), things have changed, particularly in the ability level of players. Guys who are playing today as Division II football players were Division I players back then. ... I haven’t seen anyone for a long time who plays at the same level as Brandon.”
– Slippery Rock University Offensive Line Coach Joe Walton
“Brandon Fusco is an offensive lineman who can dominate a football game. He has the size, strength, and athleticism along with an intense work ethic that makes him the best center in Division 2 football and one of the top centers in all of college football. That’s why he is a legitimate NFL prospect.”
– Slippery Rock University Head Football Coach Dr. George Mihalik
“He’s big, strong, fast and has great feet. He’s a great football player ... He has a tremendous amount of skill for a player his size ... He is without a doubt the best center we faced this season and the best center in the conference ... He should get a solid shot at playing on the next level.”
– Clarion University Head Football Coach Jay Foster
“He’s a guy who could play anywhere on the offensive line, but he’s an outstanding center. He has been the focal point of Slippery Rock’s offense and in particular it’s offensive line for the last couple of seasons ... He’s one of the top offensive linemen in the conference without question.”
– California U. of Pa. Head Football Coach John Luckhardt
“An extremely talented football player who is big and agile ... He’s been the leader on offense at Slippery Rock for the last couple of seasons and is clearly the best center we have faced this season.”
– Edinboro University Head Football Coach Scott Browning
“He’s a great, great player ... the best offensive lineman I’ve seen in a long time ... I think he’s got a great chance at making it into the NFL.”
– C.W. Post Head Football Coach Bryan Collins
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