Muirhead and Van Alstyne Named to 2012 NEFW Division II/III All-New England Team
Centerville, Mass. – Framingham State University senior defensive lineman James Muirhead (Middleboro, Mass.) and junior running back Melikke Van Alstyne (Salem, Mass.) have been named to the 2012 New England Football Writers Division II/III All-New England Team.
Muirhead and Van Alstyne are among seven players from the New England Football Conference (NEFC) to be honored with selection to the 2012 All-New England Team. The All-New England honorees will be recognized at the New England Football Writers Captains and Awards Banquet on December 6th.
Muirhead continues to accrue honors this season as he was previously tabbed as the NEFC Bogan Division Defensive Player of the Year and a first team All-Bogan Division selection. Muirhead led the NEFC with 10.5 sacks on the season and is the FSU career leader in sacks and tackles for a loss. He recorded multiple sacks three times this season and led the Rams with 83 tackles, 59 solo stops, and 23.0 for a loss. Muirhead had an interception and five forced fumbles with one recovery. For his career, Muirhead holds school records with 27.5 sacks, 55.5 tackles for a loss and 149 solo stops.
Van Alstyne was an All-New England selection a year ago as a sophomore. The junior has garnered back-to-back NEFC Bogan Division Offensive Player of the Year honors and first team all-division accolades. He led the NEFC in rushing averaging 149.2 yards on the ground per game. One of the nation's leading rushers, Van Alstyne amassed 1,790 yards on 311 carries (both new single FSU season records) with 18 scores, while also making 19 receptions for 301 yards and a touchdown. Van Alstyne, who went over the 4,000 rushing yard mark for his career, continued to leave his mark on the FSU record book during his junior season as he established a new single game rushing record with 294 yards on the ground in a win over Westfield State and set new FSU career touchdowns and career points records.
The 2012 Rams captured the NEFC Conference Championship with a victory over Salve Regina in the league's final championship game and battled Cortland State in the opening round of the NCAA Division III Football Championship. The Rams were narrowly defeated, 20-19, and finished with a school best 10-2 record.