WALTHAM, Mass. – Sophomore linebacker Bryan Hardy (Barnstable/Barnstable HS) and junior defensive end Paul Norris (North Attleboro/North Attleboro HS), two of the standouts for the 2014 Bentley University defense, were recently selected for the 2014 Academic All-Northeast-10 Conference football team.

Hardy led the Falcons in tackles with his 103 total stops included 55 solo and a dozen that resulted in losses. That was the most tackles by a Bentley player since 2009, and he was fourth in the NE-10 with a 9.4 average.

The six-foot-one 238-pounder closed out the season with 19 tackles in a 30-7 win over Merrimack, the Warriors' lowest point total in 70 games. That effort earned him Defensive Player of the Week honors in the conference with his 19 tackles the most by a Bentley player in at least 20 years and matching the most in the NE-10 in 2014.

The only Bentley player who had more tackles for losses this past season was Norris, who was selected second-team All-Northeast-10. Thirteen of his 36 tackles came behind the line of scrimmage and included were seven quarterback sacks. That number ranked fourth in the Northeast-10 and included three against Southern Connecticut State.

Like Hardy, Norris had one of his best efforts in the season-ending game at Merrimack. He finished with 10 tackles, including 2.5 for losses.

Both are standouts in the classroom as well as on the playing field with both owning grade point averages over 3.5. Hardy is an economics-finance major and Norris majors in finance.

Bentley finished the 2014 season at 5-6 overall after winning four of its final five contests.