Two Huskers Earn NCAA Postgraduate Scholarships

Indianapolis, Ind. ? A pair of University of Nebraska senior student-athletes were recently honored for their athletic and academic achievements, as football player Judd Davies (Omaha, Neb.) and cross country runner Ian Gray (Eugene, Ore.) were both awarded $7,500 NCAA postgraduate scholarships.

The two Huskers were among the 58 scholarship winners (29 male and 29 female) selected among all student-athletes who participated in fall sports and completed their eligibility during the fall.

Davies was a three-year starter for the Husker football team, helping NU to a 10-3 record and an Alamo Bowl title this season. One of four team captains last fall, Davies completed his career with 14 rushing touchdowns, setting a school record for fullbacks. In the classroom, he was a four-time Academic All-Big 12 honoree and earned second-team CoSIDA Academic All-America honors in 2003. He graduated with a 3.90 GPA in December and becomes the 31st Husker football player to earn an NCAA postgraduate scholarship and the first since Kyle Vanden Bosch in 2000. Davies has taken the MCAT and intends to go to medical school.

Gray, who competed for both the track and cross country programs for Nebraska, was a two-year letterwinner and captain in cross country for Coach Jay Dirksen. He enjoyed his best season in 2001, earning all-regional honors and helping Nebraska to an NCAA berth in 2001. Gray was a two-time academic All-Big 12 selection and garnered U.S. Collegiate Cross Country Coaches Association Academic All-America honors in 2001. Off the course, Gray is heavily involved on campus, as he currently serves as the president of the Big 12’s Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and has been involved on Nebraska’s Student-Athlete Advisory Board since arriving at NU. Gray intends gets a master’s in business administration at Nebraska.

To qualify for an NCAA postgraduate scholarship, a student-athlete must have an overall grade-point average of 3.20 (on a 4.00 scale) or its equivalent and must have performed with distinction as a member of the varsity team in the sport in which the student-athlete was nominated. The student-athlete must have behaved, both on and off the field, in a manner that has brought credit to the student-athlete, the institution and intercollegiate athletics. The student-athlete also must intend to continue academic work beyond the baccalaureate degree as a full-time or part-time graduate student.

-- Huskers --