WALTHAM, Mass. – Five Bentley University football players have been named to the College Sports Communicators Academic All-Super Region 1 team for their accomplishments in the classroom and on the playing field.

They are graduate quarterback Mark Waid (Cortland, Ohio/Girard HS), senior running back Nate Larkins (Huntington, N.Y./John Glenn HS), graduate tight end Chris Varone (Victor, N.Y./Victor HS), senior wide receiver Jake Tarentino (Clark, N.J./Don Bosco ) and junior offensive linemen Phil Koechling (Wayland/Wayland HS).

All possess grade point averages of 3.50 or better and each advanced to the national ballot for CSC Academic All-America® consideration.

Waid, in his first Bentley season after transferring from Youngstown State, earned second-team All-Northeast-10 honors after passing for 1,505 yards, rushing for 714 yards and accounting for 18 touchdowns. He led the conference in rushing yards per carry was second in both rushing yards and passing efficiency and was fourth in TD passes. Waid is pursuing his MBA after majoring in finance as an undergraduate.

Larkins, a first-team All-Northeast-10 selection, was fourth in the conference in rushing with 579 yards and also tied for third in touchdowns (8). He had two 100-yard rushing games and finished the season with 1,370 rushing yards and 17 touchdowns in 26 career games. Larkins is a management major with a minor in psychology.

Varone, who is pursuing his MBA after majoring in corporate finance and accounting as an undergrad, appeared in six games, with five starts, before suffering a season-ending injury. He had three catches this season, including his third career TD reception, for 44 yards. During his career, he played in 20 games and caught a dozen passes.

Tarentino, an economics-finance major, was Bentley's holder in every game this season and for most of the last three seasons. This season, Falcon placekickers were 12 of 17 on field goals and 30 of 31 on extra point tries. He also saw action as a back-up wide receiver and caught five passes for 77 yards.

Koechling, a management major, appeared in nine games and started eight times at guard this season. As part of an offensive line that allowed only 14 sacks, he helped Bentley average 180.7 rushing yards, 351.7 total yards and 25.2 points this season.

Bentley finished the season with a 7-3 record in Alvin Reynolds' first season as head coach.