Dec. 29, 2003

BALTIMORE, Md. --- The Johns Hopkins University football team placed five players on the 2003 ECAC Division III Southwest Football All-Star team, it was recently announced by ECAC Commissioner Phil Buttafuoco. Johns Hopkins was one of just two teams to place five players on the squad (Waynesburg-PA) and a total of 13 players from the Centennial Conference were selected.

Junior DB Matt Campbell (Hillsborough, NJ/Hillsborough) added to his already impressive list of post-season honors as he was named to the first team. Campbell was previously named to three All-America teams and became the first Johns Hopkins player to earn Centennial Defensive Player of the Year honors since 1997. He finished tied for second on the team in tackles (65) and led the team and the Centennial Conference in interceptions with eight. Campbell's eight interceptions tied the JHU single-season record and he spearheaded a unit that ranked among the top five in the nation in scoring defense and pass efficiency defense. The Blue Jays allowed a total of just 77 points in 11 games and intercepted 28 passes on the year while allowing just two touchdown passes.

Joining Campbell on the first team are senior NG Paul Smith (Lafayette, NJ/Sparta) and junior OL Matt Weeks (Landisville, PA/Hempfield), while senior LB Paul Longo (Kensington, MD/Bethesda-Chevy Chase) and senior QB George Merrell (Bloomsburg, PA/Central Columbia) garnered Honorable Mention status.

Weeks, who was named to two All-America teams and garnered First Team All-Centennial honors this season, anchored a young Blue Jay offensive line. He became the sixth different Johns Hopkins offensive lineman to earn First Team All-Centennial honors since 1995 and the Blue Jays have featured at least one First Team All-CC offensive lineman in eight of the last nine years. Weeks recently completed his first season as a full-time starter for the Blue Jays and was the leader of a line that featured no senior starters. The Blue Jays led the Centennial Conference in scoring offense (28.6) and total offense (386.6) and Hopkins was the only team in the Centennial Conference that averaged more than 175 yards rushing (199.7) and passing (186.9).

Smith was a unanimous First Team Centennial All-Star team in 2003 as he finished the season with 46 tackles, including 11 for losses and 2.5 sacks. The 46 tackles were one shy of his career high and ranked second on the team among defensive linemen. He helped anchor a Blue Jay defense that allowed just 77 points in 11 games and ranked among the national leaders in total defense, scoring defense and pass efficiency defense. Smith's two most impressive numbers may have been three and 46.5. In his career he was a three-time CoSIDA District II Academic All-American and registered 46.5 tackles for losses.

Longo, a Second Team CoSIDA Academic All-American and a co-captain for the Blue Jays, finished tied for second on the team in tackles (65) and added eight tackles for losses, three interceptions and two forced fumbles. A First Team All-Centennial selection this season, he concluded his career with 169 tackles and helped anchor a Blue Jay defense that allowed just 77 points in 11 games and ranked among the national leaders in total defense, scoring defense and pass efficiency defense.

Merrell was also a unanimous First Team All-Centennial selection this season as he led the league in pass efficiency (137.04), touchdown passes (18) and total offense (204.2 yards/game). His 18 touchdown passes tied the school record and he earned a second straight ECAC MVP Award as he led the Blue Jays to a 41-13 win over King's in the ECAC South Atlantic Championship Game by accounting for 295 yards of total offense and three touchdowns.

Johns Hopkins posted a 10-1 record in 2003 to set a school record for victories. The Blue Jays grabbed a share of a second straight Centennial Conference title and won the ECAC South Atlantic Championship.

Johns Hopkins' 2003 ECAC Southwest Football All-Stars:

First Team All-ECAC Southwest: Matt Campbell (DB), Paul Smith (DL), Matt Weeks (OL)

Honorable Mention All-ECAC Southwest: Paul Longo (LB), George Merrell (QB)

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