Thompson and Cheek Named to D3football.com All-South Region Team; Thompson Garners BSN All-America

(MINNEAPOLIS, Minn.) – Carnegie Mellon football standout Sam Thompson (Alcoa, Tenn.) earned All-America honors from Beyond Sports College Network and for the second straight season, the senior cornerback and junior offensive guard Nathan Cheek (Lancaster, Ohio) were named to the D3football.com All-South Region team. Thompson repeats as a second-team member while Cheek was also named to the second team after earning third-team honors last fall. Thompson was selected as a third-team All-American by Beyond Sports College Network.

Thompson, a first team All-University Athletic Association (UAA) selection for the second year in a row, led the team and was third in the Association with 12 passes defended.  The senior recorded one interception this season, giving him 10 for his career and ranking him fifth on the school's all-time list. On special teams, Thompson returned 20 punts for a total of 307 yards and two touchdowns.  His 15.4 yards per return average ranked him tops in the UAA and fifth in Division III. Against Wabash, Thompson recorded a 92-yard punt return for a touchdown, which set a school record and was the first Tartan punt return for a touchdown since 1999. Thompson added his second return for a score in the regular season finale at Case Western Reserve, as he returned it 56 yards.  

Cheek, also a first team All-UAA selection for the second straight season, played a huge role in blocking for a balanced offensive attack this season, which averaged 200.4 yards passing and 184.0 yards rushing per game.  On five occasions, the Tartans compiled 400 yards or more of total offense. The Tartans ended the 2012 campaign at the top of the UAA in rushing for the 15th straight year, as the Cardinal and Gray totaled 2,024 yards on the ground, in large part due to the blocking upfront from Cheek.