BRIDGEWATER, Mass. -- Bridgewater State University junior linebacker Brendan Albert has been named the 2021 NCAA Division III Football Statistical Champion for Forced Fumble Per Game.

Albert tied Alonzo Grigsby of Oliviet College for the NCAA Division III lead with 0.50 forced fumbles per game.

A native of Canton, Massachusetts, Albert put together an impressive 2021 campaign for the Bears as he tallied a team-best 110 tackles (70 solo) with 14 ½ for loss, four sacks, five forced fumbles and two recovered fumbles in ten games. He also returned two fumbles for touchdowns.

Albert led the Massachusetts State College Athletic Conference (MASCAC)  in both tackles and forced fumbles. He also ranked second in solo tackles and tackles for loss, and tied for sixth in sacks. On the national stage, along with his Division III leading five force fumbles, Albert finished sixth overall in solo tackles per game (7.0) and tied for 12th in total tackles per game (11.0).

For his outstanding performance in 2021, Albert garnered All-MASCAC First Team honors and selected to the New England Football Writers Division II/III All-New England Team. He was also voted to the D3football.com All-Region One Team and named to the All-Noontime Division III New England Football Team.

The BSU football squad finished the 2021 campaign with an overall record of 6-4 including a 6-2 MASCAC mark. The Bears capped off the season with a 35-7 victory over Massachusetts Maritime Academy in the 42nd Annual Cranberry Bowl.