WALTHAM, Mass. – Bentley University senior linebacker Bryan Hardy (Barnstable/Barnstable HS), a first-team CoSIDA Division II Academic All-America last fall, has been selected as the Scholar-Athlete Sport Excellence award winner for football in the Northeast-10 Conference.

The Scholar-Athlete Sport Excellence award is presented to the premier student-athlete in each of the conference's sports.

In addition, Hardy was named to the Academic All-Northeast-10 football team along with teammates Sam McDonald (Norfolk/King Philip Reg. HS) and Jack Hansbury (Tyngsboro/Chelmsford HS). Bentley was one of only two institutions to have three student-athletes named to the 11-member team.

Hardy earned Academic All-Conference recognition for the third straight year while McDonald, a senior safety, was recognized for the second time. Hansbury, a sophomore offensive lineman, was chosen in his first year of eligibility.

Hardy, whose 332 career tackles was a Bentley varsity record, was previously selected as a first-team All-Northeast-10 and New England Football Writers Division II-III All-Star. The Falcon co-captain led the conference in tackles (121) and was 14th in Division II.

In the classroom, Hardy has achieved a 3.72 grade point average as an economics-finance major and made the President's List the last six semesters. Hardy is the second Bentley football player to receive the Sport Excellence Award, joining Jared Kawadler (2009, 2010).

McDonald, an economics-finance major with a 3.46 GPA, finished his career with 17 interceptions, the second most in school history and third most among Division II players who played during the 2016 season. This past fall, he was fourth on the team with 52 tackles and also had three interceptions, six pass break-ups and an 8.5 average on 16 punt returns. McDonald, also a co-captain for the Falcons, has made the Dean's List the last six semesters.

Hansbury, who has achieved a 3.90 GPA in his first three semesters, started all 11 games at right tackle in 2016. For his career, he's made 14 starts for the Falcons and has been on the President's List every semester.