Nov. 13, 2008

NOTRE DAME, Ind. – Senior defensive back Mike Anello was named to the ESPN The Magazine/CoSIDA Academic All-District Team for District 5. Anello now gets placed on the national ballot for the ESPN The Magazine/CoSIDA Academic All-America Team.

Anello owns a 3.93 cumulative grade point average (GPA), qualifying him for the dean’s list, and is a finance major in Notre Dame’s Mendoza College of Business. He has earned dean’s list recognition every semester at Notre Dame and is scheduled to graduate this December in 3.5 years.

Anello owns a 4.0 GPA in his major courses and is a member of Beta Gamma Sigma, the business honors society.

After joining the squad as a walk-on in 2007 and making six tackles on special teams in eight games, Anello (Orland Park, Ill.) was awarded a scholarship this fall and has made quite a name for himself this season.

Anello is tied for 11th on the Irish in tackles with 17, including 12 solo stops, despite playing exclusively on special teams. He not only has recorded six multi-tackle games, but Notre Dame’s opponents have a total of 57 punt (18) or kickoff (39) returns in 2008 and Anello has registered a tackle on 17 of those 58 opportunities.

Anello’s top performance of the season came against Michigan earlier this season when he registered three tackles, two solo, as well as forced a fumble and fumble recovery. He also nearly recovered a second Wolverine fumble on a punt.

— ND —