22 Huskers Earn Academic All-Big 12 Honors

A total of 22 Nebraska football players have been honored as members of the 2009 Academic All-Big 12 Football Team, the conference office announced on Tuesday.

The group of Huskers is highlighted by sophomore defensive back Austin Cassidy and redshirt freshman linebacker Sean Fisher, who were each nominated with a 4.0 grade-point average. Fisher has a perfect cumulative grade-point average, while Cassidy earned a perfect 4.0 grade-point average in the two previous semesters. Fisher and Cassidy were two of just three student-athletes in the Big 12 Conference nominated with a perfect 4.0 grade-point average.

Nebraska's 22 selections included 15 first-team choices and seven second-team selections. The 22 overall honorees ranked second in the conference, trailing only Texas' 23 honorees. Nominated by each institution's director of student-athlete support services and the media relations offices, the football academic all-league squad consisted of 101 first-team members combined with 68 on the second team. First-team members consist of those who have maintained a 3.20 or better GPA, and the second team are those who have a 3.00 to 3.19 GPA.

To qualify student-athletes must maintain a 3.00 GPA or higher either cumulative or the two previous semesters and must have participated in 60 percent of their 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.

Among Nebraska's honorees, senior wide receiver Wes Cammack and senior defensive back Matt O'Hanlon were each honored for a third season. Six other Huskers picked up academic all-conference accolades for the second time, including first-teamers Andy Christensen, Thomas Grove, Ryan Hill, Marcel Jones and Adi Kunalic, along with second-team selection Lance Thorell. Fourteen other Huskers earned honors for the first time, including seniors Colton Koehler, Jacob Hickman and Ndamukong Suh.

Nebraska Honorees
First Team
Justin Blatchford, Nebraska Fr. Undeclared Ponca, Neb.
Wes Cammack, Nebraska Sr. Agricultural Engineergin DeWitt, Neb.
Austin Cassidy, Nebraska* So. Psychology Lincoln, Neb.
Andy Christensen, Nebraska Sr. Construction Management Bennington, Neb.
Will Compton, Nebraska Fr. Undeclared Bonne Terre, Mo.
Ben Cotton, Nebraska Fr. Undeclared Ames, Iowa
Sean Fisher, Nebraska* Fr. Undeclared Omaha, Neb.
Thomas Grove, Nebraska Jr. Biological Sciences Arlington, Neb.
Ryan Hill, Nebraska So. Business Administration Arvada, Colo.
Marcel Jones, Nebraska So. Construction Management Phoenix, Ariz.
Colton Koehler, Nebraska Sr. Business Administration Harvard, Neb.
Adi Kunalic, Nebraska Jr. Advertising Fort Worth, Texas
Zac Lee, Nebraska Jr. Business Administration San Francisco, Calif.
Jay Martin, Nebraska So. Business Administration Waverly, Neb.
Matt O'Hanlon, Nebraska Sr. History Bellevue, Neb.
*4.0 grade-point average

Second Team
Jacob Hickman, Nebraska Sr. Construction Management Bakersfield, Calif.
Tyler Legate, Nebraska So. Elementary Education Neligh, Neb.
Brett Maher, Nebraska Fr. Undeclared Kearney, Neb.
Mathew May, Nebraska So. Business Administration Imperial, Neb.
Graham Stoddard, Nebraska Fr. Nutrition, Exercise & Health Science Lincoln, Neb.
Ndamukong Suh, Nebraska Sr. Construction Management Portland, Ore.
Lance Thorell, Nebraska So. Agribusiness Loomis, Neb.