Tuesday, December 02, 2008 | Valley Football
Missouri Valley Football Announces 2008 All-Academic Team

ST. LOUIS -- Thirty-nine student-athletes, including 14 who earned first-team honors, highlight the 2008 all-Missouri Valley Football Conference all-academic team, announced by the league office today.

Nominees must be starters or important reserves with at least a 3.00 cumulative grade point average (4.0 scale).  Student-athletes must have reached sophomore academic and athletic standing at their institutions (freshmen are not eligible) and must have completed at least one full academic year at their institution.  League sports information directors voted on the team by designating 11 players for first-team honors and 11 players for second-team honors.

Notably, six of those honored have maintained perfect 4.0 cumulative grade point averages.

2008 Missouri Valley Football Conference All-Academic Team
(voting by league SIDs)

FIRST TEAM   Ht.  Wt.  Yr.  GPA  Major  Hometown / High School 
QB Matt Barr, Western Illinois    6-2  215  So.   3.95  Accounting  Belvidere (Ill.) High
QB Ryan Berry, South Dakota State    6-3  200  Sr.  3.89  Biology/Pre-Med   Watertown (S.D.) High
#DE Nick Compton, North Dakota St.    6-0  254  Sr.  3.64  Business Administration   Rosemount (Minn.) High
RB Herb Donaldson, Western Illinois    5-11  225  Sr.  3.19  Broadcasting   St. Louis (Mo.) CBC High
RB Tyler Duffy, South Dakota State    5-10  200  So.  4.00  Electrical Engineering   Brookings (S.D.) High
^WR Kole Heckendorf, North Dakota St.    6-2  191  Sr.  3.81  Physical Education   Mosinee (Wis.) High
TE Ryan Kernes, Southern Illinois    6-3  240  Jr.  4.00  Civil Engineering   Bloomington (Ill.) High
#LB Josh Mahoney, UNI    6-1  234  Jr.  4.00  Economics   Sioux Falls (S.D.) O'Gorman High
WR Warren McCarty, Illinois State    6-4  205  Jr.  4.00  Business Administration   Roscoe (Ill.) Hononegah High
OL Brian Mellott, Youngstown State    6-3  280  Jr.  3.96  Accounting   Austintown (Ohio) Austintown Fitch High
^RB Kyle Minett, South Dakota State    5-10  205  So.  3.50  Economics   Ruthton (Minn.) Russell-Tyler-Ruthton High
LB Ryan Patton, Southern Illinois    6-1  220  Jr.  4.00  Finance   West Frankfort (Ill.) High
#OL Kevin Robling, South Dakota St.    6-3  270  Sr.  3.82  Wildlife and Fisheries   Jordan (Minn.) High
^RB Tyler Roehl, North Dakota State    5-10  232  Sr.  3.38  Physical Education   West Fargo (N.D.) High

 SECOND TEAM Ht.  Wt.  Yr.  GPA  Major  Hometown (High School) 
OG David Arkin, Missouri State    6-5  281  So.  3.66  Construction Management   Wichita (Kan.) Kapaun High
KO Stephen Blose, Youngstown State   5-10   185   So.  4.00  Middle Childhood Education   Erie (Pa.) Harbor Creek High
DT Chris Brehmer, Missouri State    6-5  270  Sr.  3.48  Psychology   Rock Hill (Mo.) Webster Groves High
LB Travis Cherry, Western Illinois    6-2  225  Sr.  3.56  Kinesiology   Carol Stream (Ill.) Glenbard North High
WR Chris Geisz, Missouri State    6-2  290  Sr.  3.54  Sales/Sales Management   St. Louis (Mo.) Lindbergh High
LB Kyle Glazier, Western Illinois    6-1  220  So.  3.85  Law Enforcement   Geneseo (Ill.) High
TE Josh Jones, Indiana State    6-2  220  Jr.  3.92  Exercise Science   Camby (Ind.) Mooresville High
DB Conrad Kjerstad, South Dakota St.    6-0  195  So.   3.90  Pre-Economics    Wall (S.D.) High
DB Tom Krupko, Youngstown State    5-7  170  Sr.   3.92  Biology/Pre-Med.  Homeworth (Ohio) Marlington High
FS Mike McElroy, Southern Illinois    6-1  199  So.  3.94  Biological Sciences  Lowell (Mich.) High
QB Nick Mertens, North Dakota State    6-1  215  Jr.  3.76  Business  East Grand Forks (Minn.) High
P Gabe Mullane, Indiana State    6-2  180  So.  3.93  Physical Education   Massalin (Ohio) Jackson High
P Ben Nowicki, Youngstown State    5-10  175  Jr.  3.57  Chemistry  Gilbert (Ariz.) Mesquite High

HONORABLE MENTION
Illinois State:  OL Jonathan St-Pierre • Indiana State:  OL Jack Byrne • Missouri State:  DE Clayton Dickehut, WR Jared Emery • UNI:  OL Bob Swift • South Dakota State:  OL Nick Flesner, LB Chris Johnson, P Dean Priddy • Southern Illinois:  QB/WR Joe Allaria, OC Mike Farrell • Western Illinois:  TE Drew Helt • Youngstown State:  OL Brad Samsa

^ - ESPN the Magazine Academic All-America Selections (1st Team);  # - ESPN the Magazine Academic All-America Selections (2nd Team)

 
2008-09 FOOTBALL
12/8/2008 UNI Reaches FCS Semifinals; Faces Richmond on Saturday
12/7/2008 Panthers Advance to Semifinals with 36-34 Win Over New Hampshire
12/3/2008 2008 Missouri Valley Football All-Newcomer Team
12/2/2008 Missouri Valley Football Announces 2008 All-Academic Team
12/2/2008 Donaldson Named 1 of 3 Finalists for Walter Payton Award
12/2/2008 UNI hosts New Hampshire in FCS Quarterfinals
12/1/2008 2008 Missouri Valley Football All-Conference Team
11/29/2008 Valley Football Goes 1-1 in First Round of FCS Playoffs
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