Four Aggies Named to Academic All-Big 12 Football Team
Nov 26, 2008 | Football
Nov. 26, 2008
IRVING, Texas --- Four members of the Texas A&M football team were named to the Academic All-Big 12 Conference team, the conference office announced.
Earning first-team academic all-Big 12 honors were punter Justin Brantly, quarterback Stephen McGee and wide receiver/quarterback Ryan Tannehill, while offensive tackle Travis Schneider was named to the second team.
Brantly, a senior kinesiology major from Sealy, Texas, is the Big 12's top punter with a 45.5 average and has 17 "coffin corner" punts in 2008.
McGee, from Burnet, Texas, has already earned his undergraduate degree and is currently pursuing his master's degree in the prestigious Mays School of Business. McGee has been hampered by injuries as a senior, but will finish his A&M career ranked in the top five in virtually every passing and total offense category in the Aggie record book.
Tannehill, a redshirt freshman biology major from Big Spring, Texas, shifted to wide receiver during August camp and has emerged as the Aggies' top receiver. He leads the Aggies in receptions with 52 and receiving yards with 813. Already A&M's freshman record-holder in both categories, Tannehill is within range of A&M's school record for receiving yards in a season (885 by Robert Ferguson in 2000).
Schneider, a senior agricultural leadership and development major from Bellville, Texas, has started at least seven games at offensive tackle in each of the past three seasons and goes into Thursday's game against Texas with 24 career starts.
Nominated by each institution's director of student-athlete support services and its media relations offices, the football academic all-league squad consisted of 91 first team members combined with 46 on the second team. First team members have recorded a 3.20 or better GPA, while the second team are those with a 3.00 to 3.19 GPA.
To qualify student-athletes must maintain a 3.00 GPA or higher, either cumulative or in the two previous semesters and have participated in 60 percent of his team's scheduled contests. Freshmen and transfers are not eligible in their first year of academic residence. Senior student-athletes who have participated for a minimum of two years and meet all the criteria except percent of participation are also eligible.
