Nick Smart Named As KBJ Finalist

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Football
Nick Smart Named As KBJ Finalist
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May 21, 2008, 09:58

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — SBU's Nick Smart has been named as a finalist for the Ken B. Jones award.

This marks the 15th year for the award. It is named in honor of the man who served as the MIAA's first full-time commissioner for 16 years. Jones retired in 1997, and passed away in May 2004.

Nick Smart

During the 2007 season, Smart broke the NCAA all-division record for single-season receptions. Smart caught 143 passes for the Bearcats during the 2007 season, which broke the 1989 NCAA all-division record of 142, set by Manny Hazzard of the run-and-shoot Houston Cougars.

In addition to his record-setting year in receptions (143), Smart was #3 nationally in receiving yards per game (114.8).

At the conclusion of the season, Smart was named first-team All-MIAA, first-team all-region, first-team Football Gazette All-America, second-team Daktronics All-America, honorable mention D2football.com All-America, and he participated in the Cactus Bowl and East Coast Bowl senior all-star games.

Smart, who graduated Summa Cum Laude with a double major in accounting and economics / finance, was named on the MIAA Commissioner's Academic Honor Roll. He will be named on the Academic All-MIAA team. He was a second-team CoSIDA/ESPN the Magazine Academic All-District selection.

One male and one female are selected for the honors, with the finalists invited to the MIAA Awards Banquet, set for May 29 in Kansas City in the Basie Ballroom of the Downtown Marriott Hotel.