File Photo Courtesy of Mark Campbell

RICHMOND, Va. -- Ten University of Delaware student-athletes were among the 106 football players honored on the Colonial Athletic Association Academic All-Conference Football team announced by the league office Wednesday.

Blue Hens earning spots on the academic team were senior linebacker Brian Brown (at right), redshirt freshman linebacker Andrew Harrison, junior defensive end John Higginson, senior linebacker Erik Johnson, senior punter Stuart Kenworthy, graduate student and defensive end Ronald Talley, sophomore defensive tackle Scott von Duyke, sophomore tight end/long snapper Zack Reed, and redshirt freshmen wide receivers Justin Rodriguez and Mark Schenauer.

Delaware’s 10 honorees ranked fourth among the 12 league schools, trailing only the total of 15 by Hofstra and 12 each by James Madison and New Hampshire, and tying the 10 by Northeastern. Towson ranked sixth with nine honorees followed by Villanova, Maine, and Massachusetts (seven each), Rhode Island and Richmond (six each), and William & Mary (five).

To be eligible, student-athletes had to be starters or key reserves for their team, carry a 3.0 or better cumulative grade point average, and completed one full year at his institution. True freshmen and first-year transfers were not eligible.

In addition to the all-conference team, University of Maine senior offensive lineman Ryan Canary was named the CAA Football Student-Athlete of the Year from a vote of the 12 league sports information directors.

Brown, a sport management major from Fayetteville, Ga. (Sandy Creek High School), played in all 12 games this past season with eight starts and ranked seventh on the team with 53 tackles while also posting 3.5 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, and one interception.

Harrison, an engineering major from Richmond, Va. (Highland Springs HS), played in 12 games with seven starts and ranked second on the team in tackles with 75, including a team-high 42 assists. He added 6.5 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, and five pass breakups.

Higginson, a finance major from Amherst, Mass. (Amherst Regional HS), saw action in 10 games with five starts and missed two games with an injury. He still managed 29 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, and a team-high five sacks.

Johnson, a health and physical education major from Fairport, N.Y. (Fairport HS), capped an outstanding career as one of Delaware’s all-time leading tacklers. He saw action in 11 games with 10 starts in an injury-plagued season but still ranked fourth on the team with 62 tackles to go with 4.5 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, one interception, and three pass breakups. His 322 career tackles ranks ninth all-time at Delaware. He also was an NCAA Football Championship Subdivision Athletics Directors Association Academic All-Star nominee.

Kenworthy, an elementary education major from Washington, D.C. (St. Alban’s HS), capped his career as a four-year regular by averaging 38.2 yards on 64 punts. He had three punts of 50 or more yards and landed 17 inside the opponent 20-yard line. In 44 career games, Kenworthy averaged 37.2 yards per punt to rank No. 7 all-time and he did not have a punt blocked in his final 167 attempts.

Talley, a graduate student in sport management from Detroit, Mich. (Renaissance HS), was a two-year standout at Delaware after transferring from Notre Dame. He posted 46 tackles in 11 games as a senior when he also contributed eight tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks.

Von Duyke, a finance and mass communications major from Newark, Del. (Tatnall School), appeared in 10 games with two starts in 2008 and registered 10 tackles, including two for loss and one sack. He was also a CoSIDA/ESPN The Magazine Academic All-American nominee.

Reed, a fitness management major from Huntington, Pa. (Huntington HS), appeared in all 12 games for the Blue Hens as a deep snapper on kicks and punts. He recorded two tackles and also played tight end on short-yardage situations on offense.

Rodriguez, a business major from Brockton, Mass. (Sharon HS), saw action in eight games as a backup and special teams player. He recorded one tackle on the season.

Schenauer, a finance major from Galloway, N.J. (Absegami HS), also saw action on special teams and as a backup at wide receiver. He appeared in 10 games with one start and caught three passes for 22 yards.

Delaware, which posted a 4-8 record under head coach K.C. Keeler in 2008, will open spring practice March 20 with the annual Blue-White Spring Game scheduled for April 24 at Delaware Stadium.