Nov. 4, 2010

UMass senior wide receiver Anthony Nelson has been named to the ESPN Academic All-District First Team. He is now eligible for national Academic All-American honors, which will be announced later this year. Nelson, a 3.88 student majoring in Economics, leads the CAA in receptions (49) and receiving yards (635). He is UMass' first Academic All-District pick since linebacker Mark Kimener in 2003, who was also an Academic All-American.

Nelson, who transferred to UMass from Hofstra in the winter of 2009, was an FCS Academic All-Star last year with the Pride. This season, he ranks first in CAA and 20th in NCAA in catches per game (6.12). He also stands first in CAA and 23rd in nation in receiving yards per game (79.4).He had at least five catches in the first even games of the season. Nelson is seventh in CAA in all-purpose yards (100.3 per game). He has also rushed seven times for 51 yards on reverses & end-arounds.