NAU's Gilleo selected for Casino del Sol game

Published Jan. 10, 2013 10:40 a.m. ET

foxsports

TUCSON, Ariz. -- Northern Arizona senior offensive lineman Trey Gilleo has been selected to play in the Casino del Sol College All-Star Game. The game will be played at Kino Stadium in Tucson on Friday, Jan. 11, at 7 p.m., with more than 100 players participating in front of 70 professional scouts.

“This opportunity means a lot to me,” said Gilleo, a Kingman product. “It is great to play with a bunch of my peers that have also had great seasons this year. I am appreciative that they selected me as one of their candidates. Hopefully, I can go down there and represent NAU well.”

Gilleo, NAU's starting right tackle in 2012, started every game over the last three seasons, 33 straight in all. He was the leader on an offensive line that blocked for Walter Payton Award finalist Zach Bauman, who rushed for 1,182 yards on the season. The Lumberjacks' offense averaged 173.5 yards per game on the ground (38th in FCS) and 233.3 yards per game passing (40th in FCS), with Gilleo allowing only one sack on the season.

“Some of the best players in the country will be there, so hopefully I can showcase my talents,” said Gilleo, who graduated in December with a degree in criminal justice.

Gilleo, who began practicing Tuesday, joins four fellow Big Sky Conference players in the game, those being kicker Zach Brown (Portland State), wide receiver Nick Edwards (Eastern Washington), defensive tackle Zach Minter (Montana State) and running back Deonte Williams (Cal Poly). They will play on the West team coached by former Arizona, Hawaii and San Jose State coach Dick Tomey.

“Trey brought leadership, work ethic and attention to detail,” offensive line coach Eric Reid said of Gilleo’s impact this season. “He had a professional football attitude at the college level. He studied the game and his opponent and got better every year and throughout each season. He is the model for what people should follow for individual improvement.”

The Lumberjacks will be represented in the Casino del Sol game for the second consecutive season, as punter Drew Zamora and tight end Brian Riley both appeared in the 2012 game.