Niccolo Mastromatteo and Jeffery Salley Earn Academic All-District

Nov. 7, 2013

CONWAY - Coastal Carolina seniors Niccolo Mastromatteo and Jeffery Salley were voted to the Capital One Academic All-District 4 football team today, as named by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA). By virtue of making the All-District team, the two will now be eligible for Academic All-America honors later this month.

Mastromatteo, a wide receiver and punt returner, owns a 3.94 career GPA in philosophy. Last month, he was one of 16 student-athletes - from a pool of 171 semifinalists across all NCAA divisions and the NAIA - to receive the National Football Foundation (NFF) National Scholar-Athlete Award, presented by Fidelity Investments, and earned an $18,000 postgraduate scholarship.

Mastromatteo ranks third on the team with 27 receptions this season, has 16 first down receptions and has scored two touchdowns helping Coastal Carolina's offense rank among the NCAA FCS leaders in numerous categories. He is a four-time All-Big South honoree: first team honors in 2012 as a punt returner, second team honors in 2012 as a wide receiver and second team honors in 2010 and '11 as a punt returner.

For his career, Mastromatteo is the Big South's all-time leader in both punt returns (74) and punt return yards (620). In the CCU record book, he ranks fifth in all-purpose yards (2,517), sixth in receptions (75) and ninth in receiving yards (875). He additionally has the longest pass play in CCU history - being on the receiving end of an 81-yard touchdown at Gardner-Web in 2012, has the longest punt return in school history - having a 91-yard return versus Charleston Southern in 2010, and tied a CCU single-game record with 10 receptions versus Eastern Kentucky in 2012.

In addition to his on-field success, Mastromatteo is a three-time Big South Presidential Scholar, 2012 Academic All-Big South, 2012 FCS Athletic Directors Association Academic All-Star, College Sports Journal FCS All-Academic Team, a four-time CCU President's List honoree (4.0 for an academic semester) and two-time Dean's List Honoree (GPA between 3.5-3.99 for an academic semester).

Salley, a three-year starter at defensive tackle, carries a 3.58 career GPA in computer science. The Bamberg native has started each of the last 22 games and a total of 28 of his 35 career games played. He was named a captain for the 2013 season opener at South Carolina State and voted the team's Defensive MVP by the CCU staff in Coastal's win over VMI. Last season, Salley was voted the team's Defensive MVP twice.

Salley ranks seventh on the team in tackles (25) with a1.5 tackles for loss and three quarterback hurries. For his career, Salley has 80 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, 2.0 sacks, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery.

Salley has earned Big South Presidential Honor Roll distinction four times - posting at least a 3.0 for an academic year, while earning President's List at Coastal once (perfect 4.0 GPA for a semester) and Dean's List four times (3.5-3.99 GPA for an academic semester).

NCAA Division I Capital One Academic All-District 4 Football TeamPosition Name School Class Hometown GPA MajorPunter Steven Clark Auburn Gr. Kansas City, Mo. 3.70 Exercise ScienceQuarterback Aaron Murray Georgia Gr. Tampa, Fla. 3.30 Psychology/Master's/PHD in PsychologyReceiver Damiere Byrd South Carolina Jr. Sicklerville, N.J. 3.59 Sport & Entertainment ManagementReceiver Niccolo Mastromatteo Coastal Carolina Sr. Ortonville, Mich. 3.94 PhilosphyTight End Rush Hendricks South Alabama Jr. Jay, Fla. 4.00 Exercise ScienceOffensive Line Will Jackson Georgia Tech Gr. Knoxville, Tenn. 3.58 Business AdministrationOffensive Line Chris Burnette Georgia Gr. LaGrange, Ga. 3.30 Finance/Master's of Business Admin.Offensive Line Arie Kouandjio Alabama Jr. Hyattsville, Md. 3.46 FinanceOffensive Line Rashard Brown Bethune-Cookman Sr. Kissimmee, Fla. 3.86 HistoryOffensive Line Max Holcombe Jacksonville State Jr. Tuscaloosa, Ala. 3.72 Exercise ScienceOffensive Line Garrett Frye Georgia Southern Jr. Cumming, Ga. 3.71 Exercise ScienceKicker Marshall Morgan Georgia So. Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. 3.32 BusinessDefensive Back Brandon McCladdie The Citadel Gr. Martinez, Ga. 3.60 Health, Exercise and Sport ScienceDefensive Back Connor Norman Georgia Sr. Duluth, Ga. 3.72 Exercise & Sports ScienceDefensive Back James Zotto Wofford Sr. Libertyville, Ill. 3.65 BiologyDefensive Back Trent Fisher Auburn Jr. Nashville, Tenn. 3.73 CommunicationLinebacker Kevin Thomas Wofford Jr. Mills River, NC 3.48 AccountingLinebacker Nesly Marcellon Bethune-Cookman Sr. Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. 3.58 Business Administration, AccountingLinebacker Bobby Wilson Samford So. Shelbyville, Tenn. 3.40 MarketingDefensive Line Jeremy Towns Samford Sr. Dolomite, Ala. 3.85 Sports MedicineDefensive Line Edward Mosley Alabama State Jr. Atlanta, Ga. 3.84 MarketingDefensive Line Aaron Riley Jacksonville Sr. Jacksonville, Fla. 3.62 SociologyDefensive Line Jeffery Salley Coastal Carolina Sr. Bamberg, S.C. 3.58 Computer Science

Players Mentioned

Niccolo Mastromatteo

Jeffery Salley

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