Football Lands Three on ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District Team
St. Louis, Mo., November 4, 2010 – The Washington University in St. Louis football team had three student-athletes named to the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District VII team, as announced Thursday by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA).
Senior defensive back Brandon Brown was named to the first team, senior defensive lineman John Schneider earned second-team accolades, while junior center Joe Rhein picked up third-team accolades. As a first-team all-district selection, Brown is eligible to be selected to the Academic All-America Team, which will be announced on Tuesday, Nov. 23.
Brown is selected as an academic all-district honoree for the second year in a row, earning second-team honors in 2009. He is one of the anchors for the Bears’ defense this season, which ranks 23rd in Division III averaging 14.13 points per game. Brown has started all eight games for the Bears this year, recording 30 tackles and two interceptions, while leading the conference in passes defended (11). He has started all 38 games in his career for the Bears, and ranks fifth in school history in punt return average (9.6) and seventh in interceptions (12). Brown has a 3.70 grade point average while majoring in mechanical engineering.
Schneider has been in the starting lineup in all eight games for Washington U., and has been a stat stuffer for the Bears. He has made 34 tackles this season, including eight for loss, and also has recorded two passes defended, two blocked field goals, 1.5 sacks and a fumble recovery. Schneider ranks fourth among defensive lineman and 24th overall in the UAA in tackles, and is sixth in tackles for loss and 18th in sacks. He has appeared in 38 career games, making 26 starts, with 100 tackles, 19.5 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks. Schneider has a 3.59 GPA while majoring in biology.
Rhein has been the mainstay on the offensive line for the Bears the past three seasons, starting 28-consecutive games. The Bears’ offensive line has allowed a conference-low six sacks this season, which ranks 22nd in Division III, while averaging 20.8 points and 307.6 total yards per game. Rhein has a 3.68 GPA while majoring in mechanical engineering and German.
In order to be selected to an academic all-district team, a student-athlete must demonstrate success on the playing field and in the classroom, with academic and athletic achievements taken into consideration. The student-athlete must possess a minimum 3.30 cumulative grade point average and be at least a sophomore in academic standing.
Washington U. (6-2, 1-0 UAA), winners of five-straight games, continues conference play at Case Western Reserve University on Saturday, Nov. 6. Kickoff is set for Noon (ET), in Cleveland Ohio.