Jan. 4, 2012

FCS ADA Academic All-Star Team

Center Valley, Pa. - Four Patriot League student-athletes were among 58 nationally named to the 14th Annual Football Championship Subdivision Athletic Directors Association Academic All-Star Team on Monday.

Bucknell senior linebacker Tim Bolte, the Patriot League Scholar-Athlete of the Year, and Holy Cross senior offensive lineman Mike McCabe were two of 12 seniors also selected as finalists for the 11th 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 Hilton Anatole Hotel in Dallas, Texas, June 25-28, 2012.

Bolte and McCabe were joined on the Academic All-Star Team by Lafayette senior defensive back Brandon Ellis and Lehigh junior running back Zach Barket. All four student-athletes were part of the Football Academic All-Patriot League Team in the fall, and also each received Capital One Academic All-District recognition.

In addition to his honors from the Patriot League, Bolte has been named a Capital One First-Team Academic All-American and a semifinalist for the Campbell Trophy this year. He owns a 3.93 cumulative grade-point average while majoring in East Asian Studies (Chinese) and political science. He is a six-time member of the Bucknell Dean's List and earned a 4.0 GPA three straight semesters entering his senior year.

A two-year starter at linebacker, Bolte ranked second on the Bison with a career-high 64 tackles this past season, boosting his career total to 142. He started the final 22 games of his career and finished his senior season with nine tackles for loss, two sacks, five passes defended, one interception, two forced fumbles and a pair of fumble recoveries.

McCabe made his third consecutive All-Patriot League squad with a selection to the first team. He started all 11 games for the Crusaders at left tackle this season, as the leader of an offensive line which paved the way for Holy Cross to average 22.9 points and 400.9 yards of total offense per game. During his time at Holy Cross, McCabe played in 47 career games with 36 starts along the offensive line, including a streak of 34 consecutive starts to end his career. In the classroom, he owns a cumulative grade point average of 3.62 with a major in Classics. He was named an Academic All-District selection for the third year in a row.

Ellis maintains a 3.49 GPA as an Economics & Business major at Lafayette. He posted a 4.0 GPA last semester, and the Academic All-District selection was the second of his career. Ellis serves as a peer mentor in the College's Academic Tutoring and Training Information Center and as a Gateway Ambassador for Career Services. On the field, Ellis garnered First-Team All-Patriot League laurels as he led Lafayette with 11 pass breakups from his cornerback position. Ellis was fourth on the team with 70 tackles while starting every game.

Barket maintains a 3.59 grade point average as an accounting major at Lehigh. He is a multi-year member of the Dean's List and Patriot League Academic Honor Roll and has received Lehigh's faculty athletics council's academic award. Barket finished with 706 yards on 143 rushes (a 4.9 yard per carry average), and scored four rushing touchdowns while also notching 33 receptions for 329 yards and five touchdowns. He earned first-team All-Patriot League honors.

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.

A special Review Committee of Football Championship Subdivision athletics directors was responsible for selecting the all-star team and scholarship finalists.

Now in its 19th 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 46th year.

For the full FCS ADA Academic All-Star Team release, click here