United States Coast Guard Academy - Department of Athletics - Football - Costello Named Preseason Senior Classic All-American

NEW LONDON, CONN.--(6/16/10)--Senior strong safety Chris Costello has been named an honorable mention defensive back on the North team as part of the 2010 D3 Senior Classic Preseason All-America team.

Costello, who led the Bears with five interceptions last season, was second in the New England Football Conference (NEFC) and ninth nationally with .71 interceptions per game. He missed the first two games of last season with an injury and finished the season with 35 tackles, 22 solo and 1.5 for loss.

He had three interceptions in the final game of the season, a win at Framingham State, to earn NEFC Co-Defensive Player of the Week honors.

Coast Guard, which was 4-5 overall and 4-3 in the NEFC Bogan Division last season, returns 13 starters, seven of those on defense.

The Bears will also welcome back a pair of NEFC All-Bogan division selections from 2008 that missed the entire 2009 season. Senior cornerback and kick returner tri-captain Pat Bennett, who led the team with six interceptions and three blocked kicks in 2008, and senior linebacker Kyle Ennis, who led the nation in solo tackles with 7.4 per game in 2008.

Coast Guard will open the 2010 season at home vs. rival Merchant Marine on Sept. 11th in the annual battle for the Secretaries' Cup with kickoff set for 2:30 p.m.

The D3 Senior Classic is the premier post season all-star game showcasing the talent of senior players on the NCAA Division III football level. This game is held annually in December at Salem Stadium, home of the NCAA National championship game, in Salem, Virginia.