FRISCO, Texas -- Tennessee Tech safety Stephen Bush and wide receiver Jordan Smith received lofty praise Friday, earning selection to the 18th annual Football Championship Subdivision Athletics Directors Association (FCS ADA) Academic All-Star Team, which was announced by the FCS ADA.
Bush, who wrapped up his playing career in 2015 and Smith, who will return in 2016 for his final season, were among the 52 players nationally who were voted to the FCS ADA Academic All-Star Team from among 96 total nominees.
They were the only two players selected from the Ohio Valley Conference. Both were honored in November when they were named to the CoSIDA Academic All-District team.
Bush, who hails from Cookeville, graduated in May with a degree in accounting after posting a 3.7 GPA. This is his second FCS ADA honor, after earning the distinction while playing runningback in 2012. He ranked fifth on the team in total tackles in his only season on defense, making 49 stops including three tackles-for-loss. He led the league in fumbled forced with three and had one fumble recovery.
Smith, out of LaVergne, Tenn., and a product of Battle Ground Academy, is studying pre-physical therapy and boasts a 3.55 GPA. He finished the year ranked third on the team with 22 receptions for 248 yards and two touchdowns. He returned to the field in 2015 after sitting out a redshirt season in 2014 and has now played in 28 career games and recorded 38 catches for 435 yards and three scores.
"The FCS ADA is proud to recognize its Academic All-Star Team for the 18th consecutive year," stated FCS ADA President Jeff Tingey, director of athletics, Idaho State University. "It is extremely admirable what our football student-athletes continue to accomplish in the classroom and on the field and we are excited to recognize them for their efforts."
Football players from all Football Championship Subdivision institutions are eligible for the award. 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.
Additionally, from the Academic All-Star team, 10 finalists were selected for the 15th Annual FCS ADA $5,000 Postgraduate Scholarships. Two student-athletes will receive postgraduate scholarships during the Association's annual membership meeting held in conjunction with the 2016 National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) Convention, being held at the Hilton Anatole in Dallas, Texas, June 13-15.
The finalists are Christopher Beaschler, University of Dayton, LB, 3.68 GPA; James Cowser, Southern Utah University, DL, 4.0 GPA; Derek Crittenden, University of Montana, DL, 4.0 GPA; Joe Crochet, The Citadel, DL, 3.81 GPA; Nick Faraci, Robert Morris University, OL, 3.94 GPA; Mark Iannotti, Southern Illinois University, QB, 3.89 GPA; Jacob Judd, Western Illinois University, OL, 3.9 GPA; Jacob Rathmacher, University of Northern Iowa, OL, 3.87 GPA; Stephen Sippel, Cal Poly, OL, 3.84 GPA; and Jake Withnell, Eastern Washington University, TE, 3.91 GPA.
A special Review Committee of Football Championship Subdivision athletics directors was responsible for selecting the all-star team and scholarship finalists. Completing this task were Jeff Tingey, Idaho State (chair); Thorr Bjorn, Rhode Island; Bruce McCutcheon, Lafayette; and Mark Wilson, Tennessee Tech.
About the FCS ADA: Now in its 22nd year, the Football Championship Subdivision Athletics Directors Association's mission is to enhance Football Championship Subdivision football. For more information on the FCS ADA, please visit www.fcsada.com. The FCS ADA is administered by the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA), which is in its 51st year. For more information on NACDA and the 15 professional associations that fall under its umbrella, please visit www.nacda.com.
