November 6, 2008

Nov. 6, 2008

A pair of Eastern Washington University biology majors have been selected to the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District VIII football team released Thursday (Nov. 6) as selected by members of the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA).

Junior defensive lineman Jacob Kragt is a repeat selection on the squad, and is joined by offensive lineman Chris Thomas. Kragt, a biology major with a 3.85 grade point average, is from Ritzville, Wash., and is a 2005 graduate of Lind-Ritzville High School. Thomas is a 2005 graduate of Sumner, Wash., High School and has a 3.77 GPA as a biology/pre-med student.

The qualifying standards include a minimum 3.3 grade point average at Eastern and be a significant contributor to the team. Kragt and Thomas now advance to the national ballot, with the Academic All-America teams annnounced on Nov. 25.

The District VIII university division includes all NCAA Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) and Bowl Subdivision (FBS) teams from nine western states, including Alaska, Arizona, California, Hawaii, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, Utah and Washington.

Eastern football players have now been honored 48 times since 1989 on the All-District VIII squad, and six players have gone on to win eight Academic All-America honors.

Kragt is expected to be named to the Big Sky All-Academic squad for the third-straight season. He has played all eight games this year on a defensive unit that ranks 19th in FCS in rushing defense (97.3 yards per game). With four total tackles this season, Kragt has played in 31 career games with totals of 42 tackles, 1 1/2 sacks and a blocked punt. He plans to become the ninth family member, spanning three generations, to become a chiropractor.

Thomas is also expected to be named to the Big Sky All-Academic squad for the third-straight season. He has started all eight games at right offensive tackle on an offensive unit that ranks 32nd in FCS in total offense (395.0 yards per game) and fifth in passing offense (308.5). Thomas has started 15 of the 24 games he’s played as an Eagle, and he and Kragt helped EWU advance to the quarterfinals of the FCS Playoffs in 2007. The Eagles are 3-5 this season heading into this Saturday’s game at Northern Colorado.

Besides Kragt and Thomas, three other Eastern players were nominated for Academic All-America honors Only one Eastern player per position was nominated among those who met the criteria. Below is the list:

Linebacker - Marcus Walker - Sr. Pullman, Wash. (Pullman HS ’04) - Interdisciplinary Studies

Wide Receiver - Tony Davis - Jr. - Olympia, Wash. (Capital HS ’05) - Interdisciplinary Studies

Tight End - Matt Martin - So. - La Crosse, Wash. (La Crosse-Washtucna HS ’06) - Communications Studies

Offensive Line - Chris Thomas - Jr. Sumner, Wash. (Sumner HS ’05) - Biology/Pre-Medicine

Defensive Line - Jacob Kragt - Jr. - 2L* - Ritzville, Wash. (Lind-Ritzville HS ’05) - Biology

 

 

District VIII Winners

University Division (FCS and FBS schools in District VIII)

Punter - T.J. Conley - IDAHO, UNIVERSITY OF - VIII - Sr. - Walla Walla, Wash. - 3.6 - Civil Engineering

Quarterback - Brian Johnson - UTAH, UNIVERSITY OF - VIII - Sr. - Baytown, Texas - 3.34 - Mass Communications

Receiver - Casey Flair - UNLV - VIII - Gr. - Anchorage, Alaska - 3.55, 4.00 (grad) - Psychology and Public Administration

Receiver - Vinny Perretta - BOISE STATE UNIVERSITY - VIII - Sr. - Encinitas, California - 3.68 - History

Tight End - Colt Sampson - UTAH, UNIVERSITY OF - VIII - Sr. - Pleasant Grove, Utah - 3.39 - Parks, Recreation and Tourism

Running Back - Vince Pascoe - FRESNO STATE - VIII - So. - Exeter, Calif. - 4.0 - Mechanical Engineering

Running Back - Richie Brockel - BOISE STATE UNIVERSITY - VIII - Jr. - Phoenix, Arizona - 3.71 - Accounting

Offensive Line - David Oswald - BRIGHAM YOUNG UNIVERSITY - VIII - Sr. - Sandy, Utah - 3.85 - International Relations

Offensive Line - Chris Thomas - EASTERN WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY - VIII - Jr. - Sumner, Wash. - 3.77 - Biology/Pre-Medicine

Offensive Line - Andrew Jackson - FRESNO STATE - VIII - So. - Grass Valley, Calif. - 3.93 - Business Administration

Offensive Line - Micah Hannam - WASHINGTON STATE UNIVERSITY - VIII - So. - Gig Harbor, Wash. - 3.57 - Civil Engineering

Offensive Line - Derek Hoke - UTAH STATE UNIVERSITY - VIII - Gr. - Pleasant Grove, Utah - 3.45, 3.55 (grad) - Family, Consumer and Human Development

Offensive Line - Zane Beadles - UTAH, UNIVERSITY OF - VIII - Jr. - Sandy, Utah - 3.48 - Mechanical Engineering

Kicker - Louie Sakoda - UTAH, UNIVERSITY OF - VIII - Sr. - San Jose, Calif. - 3.73 - Business Marketing

Defensive Back - Beau Hadley - WEBER STATE UNIVERSITY - VIII - Jr. - Taylor, UT - 4.00 - Technical Sales

Defensive Back - Kellen Fowler - BRIGHAM YOUNG UNIVERSITY - VIII - Sr. - Kaysville, Utah - 3.82 - Finance

Defensive Back - Scott Johnson - BRIGHAM YOUNG UNIVERSITY - VIII - Jr. - Provo, Utah - 3.83 - Exercise Science

Defensive Back - Moses Harris - FRESNO STATE - VIII - Jr. - Stockton, Calif. - 3.55 - Business-Finance

Linebacker - Matthew Bauman - BRIGHAM YOUNG UNIVERSITY - VIII - Jr. - Salt Lake City, Utah - 3.92 - Finance

Linebacker - Mike Nixon - ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY - VIII - Jr. - Phoenix, Ariz. - 4.00 - Political Science

Linebacker - Clayton "Biff" Swan - WEBER STATE UNIVERSITY - VIII - Sr. - Jerome, ID - 3.72 - Technical Sales

Linebacker - Dallas Dobbs - BOISE STATE UNIVERSITY - VIII - Gr. - Las Vegas, Nevada - 3.57, 3.88 (grad) - Accounting

Defensive Line - Nick Reed - OREGON, UNIVERSITY OF - VIII - Sr. - Trabuco Canyon, Calif. - 3.44 - History

Defensive Line - Christopher Gianelli - SAN DIEGO, UNIVERSITY OF - VIII - Sr. - Rancho Palos Verdes, CA - 3.57 - Electrical Engineering

Defensive Line - Jacob Kragt - EASTERN WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY - VIII - Jr. - Ritzville, Wash. - 3.85 - Biology

Defensive Line - Aaron Fernandez - SOUTHERN UTAH UNIVERSITY - VIII - Sr. - Mesa, Ariz. - 3.46 - Physical education

 

College Division (other schools in District VIII)

Quarterback - Mike Reilly - CENTRAL WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY - VIII - Sr. - Kalispell, Mont. - 3.59 - Mechanical Engineering Technology

Receiver - Johnny Spevak - CENTRAL WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY - VIII - Jr. - Edgewood, Wash. - 3.68 - Accounting

Receiver - Drew Griffin - PACIFIC LUTHERAN UNIVERSITY - VIII - Jr. - Vancouver, Wash. - 3.84 - business finance and accounting

Tight End - Jared Bronson - CENTRAL WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY - VIII - Sr. - Federal Way, Wash. - 3.32 - Exercise Science

Running Back - Zack Schafer - REDLANDS, UNIVERSITY OF - VIII - Sr. - Saugus, Calif. - 3.74 - Economics

Running Back - D.J. Lillard - CLAREMONT-MUDD-SCRIPPS COLLEGES - VIII - Jr. - Phoeniz, Ariz. - 3.48 - Biology/Economics (dual)

Offensive Line - Dan Sanders - WHITWORTH UNIVERSITY - VIII - Sr. - Valleyford, Wash. - 3.94 - Computer Science, Math

Offensive Line - Leif Hansen - PACIFIC LUTHERAN UNIVERSITY - VIII - Jr. - Buckley, Wash. - 3.96 - Biology

Offensive Line - Curtis Smith - LEWIS & CLARK COLLEGE (OR) - VIII - Jr. - Santa Margarita, calif. - 3.57 - Chemistry and Physics

Offensive Line - Emilio Sulpizio - WHITWORTH UNIVERSITY - VIII - So. - Spokane, Wash. - 4.00 - Biology (Pre-medicine)

Offensive Line - Boone Freeman - PUGET SOUND, UNIVERSITY OF - VIII - Sr. - Tonasket, Wash. - 3.68 - Physics and Mathematics

Kicker - Garrett Rolsma - CENTRAL WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY - VIII - Jr. - University Place, Wash. - 3.46 - Athletic Training

Defensive Back - Tyler McCann - LINFIELD COLLEGE - VIII - Sr. - Keizer, Ore. - 3.75 - Biology

Defensive Back - McLane Stone - WHITWORTH UNIVERSITY - VIII - Sr. - Orcas Island, Wash. - 3.90 - Theology

Defensive Back - Brock Olson - CLAREMONT-MUDD-SCRIPPS COLLEGES - VIII - Jr. - Lake Oswego, Ore. - 3.81 - Government/Psychology (dual)

Defensive Back - Tony Cresta - CHAPMAN UNIVERSITY - VIII - Sr. - Petaluma, Calif. - 3.82 - Business Mgmt./Marketing

Linebacker - Jack Bevins - WILLAMETTE UNIVERSITY - VIII - Sr. - Park City, Utah - 3.62 - International Studies

Linebacker - Neal Chalmers - PACIFIC LUTHERAN UNIVERSITY - VIII - Sr. - Bellevue, Wash. - 3.54 - Business with an emphasis on accounting nce

Linebacker - Eric Borton - PUGET SOUND, UNIVERSITY OF - VIII - Sr. - Yakima, Wash. - 3.56 - Business

Defensive Line - Brian Walker - PUGET SOUND, UNIVERSITY OF - VIII - Sr. - Keizer, Ore. - 3.52 - English

Defensive Line - Travis Niles - WHITWORTH UNIVERSITY - VIII - So. - Spokane, Wash. - 4.00 - Theology