Ram Duo Honored with Selection to D3football.com All-East Region Team

Framingham, Mass. – Framingham State University senior defensive lineman James Muirhead (Middleboro, Mass.) and junior running back Melikke Van Alstyne (Salem, Mass.) continue to accrue honors this season as they were named to the D3football.com All-East Region First Team this afternoon.   

Both players are being recognized by D3football.com for the second time in as many seasons.  Van Alstyne was a second team selection as a sophomore, while Muirhead was on the third team in 2011.

Four players from the New England Football Conference (NEFC) including Van Alstyne and Muirhead were recognized by D3football.com with selection to the All-East Region first team.  The other two first team honorees were return specialist Graham Asum from Worcester State and Salve Regina corner back Phil Terio.

Van Alstyne had an outstanding junior season as he garnered back-to-back NEFC Bogan Division Offensive Player of the Year honors, first team all-division accolades and All-New England selections by the New England Football Writers.  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 and set new FSU career touchdowns and career points records.

Muirhead continues to accrue honors after his final season as he was previously tabbed as the NEFC Bogan Division Defensive Player of the Year, a first team All-Bogan Division selection and an All-New England selection by the NEFW.   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.

The D3football All-Region Teams, selected in balloting by East Region sports information directors and D3football.com staff, were chosen from 272 nominations by Division III member school and a total of 75 players were recognized.