RICHMOND, Va. (Nov. 21, 2011) - William and Mary All-American senior running back Jonathan Grimes was selected as the 2011 Colonial Athletic Association Special Teams Player of the Year, while he and six other Tribe players garnered all-conference honors based on voting by the league's 11 head coaches.

Grimes, senior tight end Alex Gottlieb, senior center James Pagliaro and junior cornerback B.W. Webb earned first-team honors, while senior defensive end Marcus Hyde and junior safety Brian Thompson garnered second-team distinction. Grimes also earned third-team accolades as a kick returner, while junior Jabrel Mines was a third-team selection at linebacker.

A complete list of All-CAA honorees is available by clicking here.

With his three All-CAA honors this season, Grimes increased his career total to 11 and is the most-decorated player in conference history. The impressive total eclipses the previous record of eight that he and former New Hampshire quarterback Ricky Santos shared entering the season. A three-time first-team all-conference selection at running back, Grimes' long list of accolades also includes being honored as the league's special teams player of the year twice (2010, 2011) as well as its offensive rookie of the year (2009). He was also chosen as a second-team All-CAA running back as a freshman (2008) and earned all-league honors as a kick returner all four seasons.

One of the nation's top players this fall, Grimes led the country with 228.2 all-purpose yards per game and led the CAA and ranked sixth nationally with 130.1 rushing yards per game. Additionally, the Payton Award Watch List selection set single-season school records with 2,510 all-purpose yards, 1,431 rushing yards and 817 kickoff return yards. En route to piling up the record-breaking numbers, Grimes rushed for more than 130 yards in six of eight conference games this season - highlighted by three consecutive 200+ yard games to close out the fall.

One of the greatest players in school history, Grimes finished his career as W&M's all-time leader in rushing yards (4,541), all-purpose yards (7,955), kickoff return yards (2,289) and rushing attempts (936). Additionally, he ranks third on the CAA's career all-purpose yards list and sixth on the league's career rushing yards list.

After earning All-America honors in 2010, Gottlieb posted another outstanding season this fall and was honored as a first-team all-league selection for the second consecutive year. The Delray Beach, Fla., native ranked second on the team with 33 receptions for 424 yards with a touchdown, while his average of 12.8 yards per catch ranked just outside the CAA's top 10. He was especially productive in conference action, as he totaled 26 receptions for 332 yards and recorded multiple catches against all eight league opponents.

Webb earned first-team honors at cornerback for the second consecutive season and increased his career total of all-league accolades to six. The Newport News, Va., native was instrumental in helping the Tribe rank among the conference's top defensive teams against the pass this fall and finished the season with two interceptions, 40 tackles and three tackles for a loss. With 11 career interceptions, he ranks tied for eighth on W&M's career list.

Pagliaro garnered all-conference accolades for the second straight season after helping anchor the team's offensive line. In addition to helping Grimes rush for a single-season school record 1,431 yards, he and the offensive line ranked tied for third in the CAA by allowing just 19 sacks.

Hyde earned second-team all-league honors for the second consecutive season after another outstanding fall. The Manassas, Va., native ranked tied for third in the CAA with 6.5 sacks while he ranked sixth in the conference in tackle per game among defensive linemen (4.7). In addition to leading the Tribe in sacks, he totaled 52 tackles and led the team with 10.0 tackles for a loss. Hyde's best effort of the season came in his record-setting performance against New Hampshire when he totaled five sacks, six tackles for a loss, a forced fumble and a career-high nine tackles.

One of the league's top safeties, Thompson garnered second-team All-CAA honors after ranking tied for ninth in the conference in tackles per game among defensive backs (6.2). Additionally, the Somerset, N.J., native ranked third on the team with 68 tackles and totaled five tackles for a loss, a sack, an interception and a forced fumble.

W&M's top tackler this season, Mines earned his first all-conference accolade after ranking sixth in the CAA with 9.9 tackles per game. In addition to recording a team-best 109 tackles, the Doswell, Va., native also totaled eight tackles for a loss, 4.5 sacks, two interceptions, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries. Mines posted five double-digit tackle efforts, while he equaled a career high with 16 tackles in the season opener at Virginia.