Dec. 21, 2009
Five Great West Conference football players have been named to the FCS Athletic Directors Association Academic All-Star Team.
North Dakota's Brandon Hellevang and Andrew Miller, Southern Utah's Tysson Poots and Trevor Ward and South Dakota's Chris Ganious were named to the 55-member team.
Hellevang, a senior kicker from Fargo, N.D., connected on a league leading 96.4 percent of his PATs this season (27-28) and tied for first in the GWC with 11 of 15 field goals for 83.3 percent (Ryan Griffith, SUU). He also handled punting duties for the Sioux and posted an average of 42.6 yards per punt, good for second in the GWC. For his on the field accomplishments, Hellevang was selected to the All-GWC second team as both a kicker and punter. He posted a 4.0 GPA in marketing and is currently working on his MBA.
Miller, a senior linebacker from Menomonie, Wis., recorded 44 tackles (29 solo) for the Fighting Sioux this season. He carries a 4.0 GPA as a biology major.
Hellevang and Miller are also among the six finalists selected for the Ninth Annual FCS ADA's $5,000 postgraduate scholarship.
SUU wide receiver Poots, a junior from Henderson, Nev., carries a GPA of 3.61 in buiness education. He finished the season ranked second in the nation in receptions per game (9.4) and receiving yards per game (120.1) as well as 26th in the FCS in scoring with 10.0 points per game. After missing the first two games of the season with an injury, Poots came back to lead the Great West Conference in receptions, receiving yards per game and in scoring, with 85 catches for 1,081 yards and 15 touchdowns on his way to first-team All-GWC accolades.
Ward, a senior from Ogden, Utah, carries a GPA of 3.66 in business education. He finished the season with 35 punts for 1,680 yards, an average of 48.0 yards per punt, the best average in the nation as well as the best average in SUU history. He registered 12 punts of more than 50 yards, pinning opponents inside the 20 with 14 of them, while 15 were fair caught. As a result, SUU also led the nation in net punting yards at 45.1 yards per kick. Ward was named first-team All-GWC and was honored as the Great West Conference Special Teams Player of the Year.
South Dakota's Ganious, a sophomore psychology major, has earned a 3.82 GPA. The running back from Houston, Texas, led the Coyotes in rushing yards the last two seasons. This fall he posted 828 yards and four touchdowns on 148 attempts to earn All-Great West Conference first-team honors.
Football players from all Football Championship Subdivision institutions are eligible for these prestigious awards. Each of the nominees was required to have a minimum grade point average of 3.20 (on a 4.00 scale) in undergraduate study and have been a starter or key player with legitimate athletics credentials. He must have reached his second year of athletics and academic standing at the nominated institution and have completed a minimum of one full academic year at the nominated institution. He must also have participated in 50 percent of the games played at his designated position.
