Moon Township, Pa. - Sophomore defensive lineman Nolan Nearhoof (Gibsonia, Pa. / Mars Area) of the Robert Morris University football team was honored by the Northeast Conference Thursday for his performance on the field and in the classroom, as he was named the 2010 NEC Scholar-Athlete of the Year for the sport of football.

Nearhoof is the fourth player from Robert Morris to garner the award, joining former linebackers Jonathan LeDonne (2004) and Adam Lawrence (2008) and former defensive lineman Ray Genlser (2006). 

To be eligible for the NEC Scholar-Athlete of the Year in a sport, a student-athlete must have earned a minimum of 60 semester hours, maintained a minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.20 and participated with distinction as a member of a varsity team. A biology major, Nearhoof has posted a cumulative grade point average of 3.92 through the fall 2010 semester.

A 2010 All-NEC First Team selection, Nearhoof helped guide Robert Morris to an overall record of 8-3 in 2010, a share of the NEC regular-season championship thanks to a 7-1 league mark and the league's inaugural bid to the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) playoffs. 

A key component to an RMU defense that led the NEC in scoring defense (20.5 ppg), rushing defense (113.8 yards per game) and total defense (312.6 ypg) in 2010, Nearhoof finished with 49 tackles, including 14 solo stops, to tie for fifth for the Colonials. He led Robert Morris in sacks (5.5) and quarterback hurries (9) and also contributed a pass breakup, forced fumble and fumble recovery. 

Named to the 2010 Capital One District II Academic All-America Team by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA), Nearhoof became the third student-athlete from the football program and fifth overall to earn Capital One Academic All-America accolades, as he was named to the 2010 second team.

In addition to the honor for Nearhoof, a total of 108 student-athletes from Robert Morris covering seven fall sports, including 62 male student-athletes, were named to the 2010 NEC Fall Academic Honor Roll. To be eligible for the honor roll, student-athletes must have posted a cumulative GPA of 3.20 and be an active member of an officially recognized varsity team. Freshman are eligible for the honor roll.

In addition, a total of 33 student-athletes from RMU named to the 2010 NEC Fall Commissioner's Honor Roll. To garner the honor, a student-athlete must maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.75, and freshman are eligible for the honor roll.

To view the entire list of Robert Morris student-athletes that competed in a fall sport named to either the 2010 NEC Fall Academic Honor Roll or the 2010 NEC Fall Commissioner's Academic Honor Roll, please download the PDF below or click on the respective links associated with this article.