Witzmann Named ADA Academic All-Star; Finalist for Postgraduate Scholarship

Cleveland, Ohio - The 43 winners of the 11th annual Football Championship Subdivision Athletics Directors Association Academic All-Star Team were announced by the Football Championship Subdivision Athletics Directors Association (FCS ADA), today. There were 79 total nominees.

The winners were announced at the Football Championship Subdivision football championship in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

Additionally, from the Academic All-Star team, six finalists were selected for the Eighth Annual FCS ADA’s $5,000 postgraduate scholarship. Two student-athletes will receive postgraduate scholarships during the Association’s annual membership meeting held in conjunction with the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) Convention, being held at the Orlando World Center Marriott Resort, June 18-21, 2009.

The finalists are Pierre Banks, Appalachian State, linebacker, 3.91; Andrew Berry, Harvard, defensive back, 3.78; Ryan Berry, South Dakota State, quarterback, 3.89; Andrew Dete, Dartmouth, linebacker, 3.74; Jim Verlanic, Montana State, offensive lineman, 3.71; and Justin Witzmann, Charleston Southern, defensive lineman, 3.80.

“The Football Championship Subdivision Athletics Directors Association looks forward to this annual academic all-star team announcement,“ said Tim Van Alstine, chair of the Football Championship Subdivision Academic All-Star Team Selection Committee and athletics director at Western Illinois University. “Each year we honor outstanding players that represent the true meaning of the word student-athlete and this year is no different. We are proud of their accomplishments both in the classroom and on the field.“

Witzmann is the third player in the past four seasons from CSU to earn a spot on the all-star team. He is also the second player over that time to be named a finalist for the postgraduate scholarship, following in the footsteps of Adam DeGraffenreid, who was a finals following the 2005 season.

Witzmann was a second-team All-Big South selection this year, having played in every game over the course of his two-year career. He finished this year with 42 total tackles including eight tackles-for-loss and 4.5 sacks. His best game came against Presbyterian where he had eight tackles with two sacks. Additionally, he forced a pair of fumbles for CSU. He was the top CSU scholar-athlete on the football team for the 2006-07 and 2007-08 school years.

Football players from all Football Championship Subdivision institutions are eligible for these prestigious awards. Each of the nominees were 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.