Dec. 18, 2009

Center Valley, Pa. - Three Patriot League student-athletes were selected to the 2009 Football Championship Subdivision Athletic Directors Association Academic All-Star Team, as announced by the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics on Friday.

Holy Cross senior offensive lineman Chris Smith and junior offensive lineman Mike McCabe and Bucknell senior linebacker Greg Jones were all named to the squad out of the Patriot League. The trio was among 55 student-athletes selected to the team from around the country.

Both McCabe and Smith were named ESPN The Magazine Academic All-Distric picks for their work in the classrom. Each player was also a Second-Team All-Patriot League selection on the offensive line in 2009, as they helped pave the way for a Holy Cross unit which ranked fourth in the nation in passing offense (314.9 yards per game), sixth in total offense (433.6 yards per game) and 13th in scoring offense (32.2 points per game).

Smith has been named to the FCS Athletic Directors Academic All-Star team for the second time in his career, after previously being honored in 2007.

Jones carries a 3.65 grade-point average and excelled on the field for the Bison in 2009, earning First-Team All-Patriot League honors at linebacker after finishing the year with 101 tackles, five tackles for loss, three interceptions and three pass breakups.

The FCS Athletic Directors Academic All-Star team consists of players with a minimum grade point average of 3.20 (on a 4.00 scale) in undergraduate study, who are also starters or key players with legitimate athletic credentials. A special review committee of Football Championship Subdivision athletics directors was responsible for selecting the Academic All-Star Team.

For a complete list of the 2009 FCS ADA Academic All-Star Team, click here