Dylan Rushe among 2012 Fred Mitchell Award Watch List placekickers

BEVERLY, Mass. - For the second season in-a-row, Endicott placekicker Dylan Rushe (Palos Verdes, Calif.) is listed among the 44 placekickers nationwide who are in consideration for the 2012 Fred Mitchell Award given for excellence on the football field and in the community. 

The nominees for the Fred Mitchell Award Watch List come from Football Championship Subdivision (FCS), Division II, III, National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) and National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA).  The Watch List includes place-kickers from more than 750 eligible colleges. 

The Award's Selection Committee Chairman Chris Kearney said, "These placekickers are terrific on the football field and off the field representing their schools, their football teams, their conferences, their communities, their families and themselves.  We look forward to following their accomplishments during the next few months."

Fred Mitchell said, "It is a pleasure to include these fine young men on the Watch List for this Award.  We are delighted to recognize them based on outstanding performance in the community and expectations going into the 2012 college football season.  It is also a thrill to see so many familiar names on the Watch List, including 22 place-kickers that were finalists for the Award last season."

The breakdown of the 44 place-kickers is as follows: 

• Collegiate Division – 16 FCS, 11 Division II, 14 Division III, 0 NAIA and 3 NJCAA 
• State – the place-kickers play at schools located in 25 different states, five play at schools in Pennsylvania 
• Year – 23 Seniors, 14 Juniors, 7 Sophomores 
• Fred Mitchell Award Finalists in 2011 that are on the 2012 Watch List - 22 

Below is the nomination description on Endicott junior place-kicker Dylan Rushe: 

DYLAN RUSHE 
Endicott College (Massachusetts) – Division III 

Junior from Palos Verdes, CA….led the team in 2011 scoring with 102 points from 17 of 26 FG's and 51 of 53 PAT's….ranked 2ndin Division III in FG's per game (1.55) and 27th in points per game (9.36)….NEFC ranks 2nd in scoring, 1st in kick scoring, 1st in FG's, 3rd in FG % and 3rd in PAT %....set Division III New England record for most FG's in a season (17), tied for longest FG (55 yards) and holds record for career FG % (69%)….scored at least 10 points in five games in 2011….participates in annual run to raise funds for St. Vincent de Paul…food and clothing drive volunteer at his local parish in Dublin, Ireland…Habitat for Humanity volunteer in Wilmington and Long Beach….volunteers at weekly events with special needs children at North Shore Arc….Open Door Food Pantry volunteer during holidays to distribute food and household products….raises funds for Relay for Life, Walk forLife, City of  Hope and Wellness Community 

The official press release from the Fred Mitchell Award with all Watch List nominees can be found here.