2016 CoSIDA Academic All-America Division II Football Team

Malone University defensive lineman Austin Cary became the first-ever Malone student-athlete to be named to the Academic All-America Division II football team when the award was announced Wednesday afternoon by the College Sports Information Directors of America.
 
Cary, of Loudonville, Ohio (Loudonville HS), was selected to the CoSIDA Academic All-American First Team following a tremendous senior season in which he recorded 47 tackles and a team-high five sacks. He was named G-MAC All-Conference in 2016 and finished his career with 126 tackles and 11.0 total sacks.

A standout in the classroom as well as on the football field, Austin boasts a 3.79 cumulative GPA as a Biology major. He has twice earned GLIAC All-Academic Excellence Team honors during his career and was voted All-Academic District in 2015. He repeated as an Academic All-District recipient in 2016 before advancing to the national ballot and being voted an Academic All-American this fall.
 
The CoSIDA Academic All-America program recognizes the nation's top student-athletes who excel both athletically and academically. Nominees for the prestigious award must be a starter or important reserve, possess at least a 3.30 cumulative grade-point average (on a 4.00 scale), and have achieved at least sophomore academic status.
 
Honorees are first selected from eight geographic districts across the United States and Canada. First-Team Academic All-District honorees then advance to the Academic All-America Team ballot. First and Second Teams All-Americans were announced this week and can be viewed by clicking the link at the top of the page.
 
Cary is the 10th Pioneer to be named an Academic All-America in any sport since Malone joined the NCAA in 2012. He is just the third First Team honoree.