Griz have 9 up for Academic All-American
10/20/2009 12:00:00 AM | Football
The University of Montana recently nominated nine players for consideration for the 2009 ESPN The Magazine Co-SIDA Division I Football Academic All-American team.
To be nominated, a student-athlete must be a starter or important reserve with at least a 3.30 cumulative grade point average (on a 4.0 scale) at his/her current institution.
Nominated athletes must have participated in at least 50 percent of the team???s games at the position listed on the nomination form (where applicable). Athletes who have not participated in at least 50 percent of their team???s contests are not eligible.
No student-athlete is eligible until he/she has completed one full calendar year at his/her current institution and has reached sophomore athletic eligibility.
In the cases of transfers, graduate students and two-year college graduates, the student-athlete must have completed one full calendar year at the nominating institution to be eligible.
Nominees in graduate school must have a cumulative GPA of 3.30 or better both as an undergrad and in grad school.
Second-ranked Montana???s academic All-America nominees:
Dan Beaudin, Senior, TE, from Noxon: 3.54 GPA in Education. Has played in all six games this season and has six catches for 106 yards (17.7 yards a catch)...has played in 43 career games...has also lettered in track (twice) and basketball (once) at UM.
Brandon Fisher, Senior, LB, from Franklin, Tenn.: 3.92 GPA in Business. Started five games this season, missing one contest due to injury, yet still the team???s third-leading (tie) tackler with 30 stops...has played in 46 career games.
Shawn Lebsock, Senior, LB, from Billings: 3.46 GPA in Business. Leading tackler for Grizzlies with 45 stops...a 2009 team captain...UM???s Golden Helmet Award (hardest hitter) last season...ranked 23rd in school history with 235 tackles...has played in 46 career games.
Caleb McSurdy, Sophomore, LB, from Boise, Idaho: 3.41 GPA in Communications. Has played in all six contests at linebacker this season and has 11 tackles...also plays on special teams.
Andrew Selle, Junior, Quarterback from Billings: 3.73 GPA in Mathematics. Has passed for 1,062 yards and 11 touchdowns...started four of six games...currently ranked fifth in the nation in passing efficiency (164.88)...ranked 18th in school history with 1,551 career passing yards in four starts...Big Sky "Player of the Week" on Sept. 26th.
Alex Shaw, Sophomore, LB, from Spokane, Wash.: 3.76 GPA in Business. Has started in all six games in 2009...Montana???s fifth (tie) leading tackler so far this season with 28 stops.
Erik Stoll, Junior, Strong Safety, from Sandpoint, Idaho: 3.95 in Biology. Has started all six games this season and is UM???s second leading tackler with 39 stops...Montana???s 2008 President???s Award recipient (UM???s male athlete with the highest GPA)...was a Co-SIDA All-District 7 selection last season.
Alex Verlanic, Junior, OC, from Drummond: 3.61 GPA in Business. Has started all six games for the Grizzlies, who are ranked fifth in the FCS in scoring (36.83 ppg) and 16th in total offense (414.33 ypg)...chosen team captain for Eastern Washington game this season.
Bryan Waldhauser, Sophomore, DT, from Worden:3.50 GPA in Business. Has played in all six games at defensive tackle and special teams and 12th leading tackler with 17 stops.
