ELON, N.C. -- Elon senior running back #A.J. Harris# was selected as a member of the CoSIDA Capital One Academic All-District III football team for the third consecutive season on Thursday.  He is the first Elon football player at the NCAA Division I level to earn Academic All-District honors in three seasons.  Harris' recognition as a first-team member now qualifies him for inclusion on the CoSIDA Academic All-America teams.

Harris, who hails from Ocean View, N.J., sports a 3.45 GPA as a media arts and entertainment major.  He plans on attending graduate school for film after earning his degree from Elon.

Through Elon's nine games this season, Harris has rushed for a team-leading 378 yards on 100 carries.  He is also fourth on the squad with 31 catches for 209 yards.  Against both Concord and Samford, Harris scooped up blocked punts and returned the ball for a touchdown.

For his career, Harris has rushed for 1,774 yards and 16 touchdowns while racking up 1,016 receiving yards and five touchdown catches.  The 16 rushing scores rate fourth in Elon's Division I history and his rushing yardage total is the third-most for the program since the move to Division I.  In 2008 Harris was a part of the second-longest pass play in Elon history when he took a screen pass 91 yards in a victory over Samford.

To be eligible for nomination, student-athletes must have participated in at least 50 percent of their team's contests, be at least a sophomore athletically and carry a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.3.

Elon's Football Academic All-District III Selections
2002 - Josh Rowan, OL (2nd team)
2003 - Brandon Mason, OL (1st team)
2004 - Brandon Mason, OL (1st team)
2005 - Reggie Hall, RB (1st team)
2005 - Mark Jetton, DL (1st team)
2006 - Danny Boback, LB (1st team)
2006 - Reggie Hall, RB (1st team)
2009 - #A.J. Harris#, RB (1st team)
2010 - #A.J. Harris#, RB (1st team)
2011 - #A.J. Harris#, RB (1st team)