November 29 , 2005

Football Gazette Player of the Week Jimmy Gradis (Photo by Art Foxall)

GENEVA, N.Y.—Hobart senior outside linebacker Jimmy Gradis (Elwood John Glenn/Greenlawn, N.Y.) was named a National Player of the Week by Don Hansen’s Football Gazette for his play during the second round of the NCAA Division III Playoffs on Nov. 26.

Gradis enjoyed a monster afternoon in the Statesmen’s season finale. He registered a game- and career-high 17 tackles during Hobart’s 21-14 loss at No. 8 Delaware Valley. His 17 stops are the most by a Statesman since Chris Purtell ’05 recorded 18 tackles against Franklin & Marshall on Sept. 18, 2004, while Gradis’ 11 solo tackles are the most by a Statesman since Purtell logged 12 against Kings Point on Oct. 16, 2004.

A four-time All-Liberty League selection, Gradis led Hobart with 76 tackles this season. In 41 career games, he registered 249 tackles (155 solo), 23.5 tackles for a loss, 21 passes defended, six interceptions, five sacks, five fumble recoveries, and three forced fumbles.

Over the past four years, Hobart earned three NCAA Playoff appearances, reaching the regional semifinals twice, and won the 2003 ECAC North Atlantic Bowl. Gradis and his classmates will leave campus with more wins than any other graduating class in Hobart’s 112 seasons of football (32-9, .780).

The Statesmen finished the 2005 season with a 9-2 mark, matching the program record for wins in a season for the second consecutive year. Hobart was ranked as high as 11th in the AFCA Coaches Poll and ended the regular season at No. 22.