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Defender of The Nation Award Player Profile Shane Hartzell

 


Career Accomplishments: Team’s top returning tackler…Has a good combination of speed and strength…Will be looked upon to be one of the team’s top defensive players.

2022: Started all 11 games and tallied a team-high 74 tackles (34 solo) to go with nine tackles for loss, four sacks and a forced fumble…Recorded a career-high 15 tackles, including eight solo stops at Richmond…Named CAA Rookie of the Week for his effort against Delaware with 10 tackles, two tackles for loss and a sack…Posted seven tackles and a sack for minus 12 yards at Army…Credited with six total tackles against LIU, Albany and Hampton.

2021: Played in four games during his first collegiate season; Bucknell (9/11): Tallied two assisted tackles in the season opener as the Wildcats posted a 55-3 victory.

Pennridge High School: Selected as the All-Area Player of the Year and was a first team all-area honoree as a senior … Earned second team all-state accolades as a junior … Three-time first team all-conference pick at linebacker and second team selection as a running back … Achieved High Honors status academically all four years.

Personal: Born 4/27/03 … Youngest of three children of David and Donna Hartzell … Brother, Joel, plays college football at Duquesne.

Quote From Villanova Head Coach Mark Ferrante: “Shane is a hard-nosed football player who has a great feel for the game. His outstanding football instincts allow him to always be in the right place to make plays. As a redshirt freshman last year, he led the team in tackles with 74 total stops and was one of our best defensive players. Shane has a very bright future ahead of him.”

The recipient of the Defender of the Nation Award will be announced on October 26th from one of the Nation’s (14) military academies and institutions including Air Force Academy, Auburn, The Citadel, Coast Guard Academy, Michigan State, Naval Academy, Norwich University, O le Miss, Texas A&M University, Virginia Tech, VMI, South Carolina, Villanova, and West Point and is based on exceptional leadership qualities on the field, in the classroom and in the community. The recipient must also exhibit a high standard of integrity by leading through example.

In conjunction with the Football Writers Association of America, the 2023 Bronko Nagurski Awards Banquet will be held on Monday, December 4th at the Charlotte Convention Center.  In addition to honoring the Defender of the Nation Award winner, the banquet will celebrate the recipient of the Bronko Nagurski Trophy and Legends Award. Clemson University’s Jeff Davis from the Class of 1981 will be honored as the 2022 Legends Award recipient and Texas Christian University Head Coach Sonny Dykes is slated as the keynote speaker.

ABOUT THE CHARLOTTE TOUCHDOWN CLUB
The Charlotte Touchdown Club is a non-profit organization founded in 1990 for the purpose of promoting high school, collegiate, and professional football in the Charlotte, N.C., region. The club’s activities and services focus community attention on the outstanding citizenship, scholarship, sportsmanship, and leadership of area athletes and coaches. Since 1991 the club has raised and donated nearly $3 million to benefit area high school and collegiate athletics. For more information, contact John Rocco (704-347-2918 or jrocco@touchdownclub.com). The official website of the Charlotte Touchdown Club is touchdownclub.com.