TOWSON, MD -- Union College senior linebacker Noah Joseph has been selected to the Capital One 2012 Academic All-America Division III Football Team. Joseph was a First Team selection, one of three linebackers named to the first team. The team is selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA).

Joseph becomes the ninth first team Academic All-America selection in program history, and first since football's John Peters was named to the first team in 2009. This is the 21st time a Union student-athlete has been awarded Academic All-America honors and a total of 18 student-athletes have been recognized (including multiple winners).

"Noah has been an outstanding player and representative of our football program," said Head Coach John Audino. "He displays great passion not only for his football dedication, but for his schoolwork and his commitment to his community as well. He has performed exceptionally well both on the field and off the field of play and this prestigious award is well deserving as he joins an exclusive club of Union student-athletes."

Joseph carries a 3.91 GPA in Chemistry and Sociology and was a Capital One CoSIDA Academic All-District First Team selection. He also was a national top 10 finalist for the 2012 Gagliardi Trophy, presented to the player of the year in NCAA Division III. Joseph was one of only three players selected unanimously to the Liberty League All Star First Team. He led the Liberty League with 105 tackles and also had three for losses. He is only the 16th Dutchmen to record 200 career tackles and his single season total ranks seventh all-time at Union. Joseph was a three time Liberty League weekly honoree and ranked #45 nationally in NCAA Division III in total tackles. He had six games with 11 or more tackles. He had 17 in the opener vs. Salve Regina and 14 against both Rochester and #7 Hobart. Joseph had 12 solos vs. Salve Regina and 10 solos at Ithaca. In his final game, he helped Union bring "The Dutchman Shoes Trophy" back to campus with 11 tackles in a win at RPI.

To be eligible for the National team, a student athlete had to have been selected to its District's first team. Initial nomination criteria at the District level includes being a varsity starter or key reserve, maintaining a cumulative grade point average of 3.30 on a scale of 4.00, reaching sophomore athletic and academic standing at his current institution and be nominated by their sports information director.

Since the program's inception in 1952, CoSIDA has bestowed Academic All America honors on more than 14,000 student athletes in Divisions I, II, III and NAIA covering all NCAA championship sports.

Three Union student-athletes have earned Academic All-America honors in the calendar year of 2012. Baseball's Tyler Heck and men's ice hockey's Troy Grosenick were each honored earlier this year. This matches the most honors awarded in one year, as Erika Eisenhut received Academic All-America honors in both basketball and softball and her softball teammate Julie Gawronski also was honored in 2006.

The 2012 Capital One Division III Academic All-America Football Team Selected by CoSIDA

All-Time Union College Academic All-Americans