FCS ADA ALL-STAR TEAM

CLEVELAND - The 50 winners of the 17th annual Football Championship Subdivision Athletics Directors Association (FCS ADA) Academic All-Star Team were announced by the FCS ADA, today.

USD senior captain Troy McClelland (San Diego, Calif.), who has a 3.89 GPA in Accountancy, was selected to this prestigious team. A three-time Academic Pioneer Football League selection and team MVP, McClelland led the Toreros to the 2014 PFL championship, and to the FCS Playoffs for the first time in program history.

Football players from all Football Championship Subdivision institutions are eligible for the award. 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.

Additionally, from the Academic All-Star team, 10 finalists were selected for the 14th Annual FCS ADA $5,000 Postgraduate Scholarships. Two student-athletes will receive postgraduate scholarships during the Association's annual membership meeting held in conjunction with the 2015 National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) Convention, being held at the World Center Marriott Resort in Orlando, Fla., June 11-18.

McClelland is an elite finalist for the FCS ADA Postgraduate scholarship along with: Corey Boemer, Southern Illinois University, C, 3.89 GPA; James Cowser, Southern Utah University, DL, 3.99 GPA; Kyle Emanuel, North Dakota State University, DE, 3.66 GPA; Jake Farley, University of Northern Iowa, LB, 3.69 GPA; Max Holcombe, Jacksonville State University, C, 3.72 GPA; Caleb Schaffitzel, Missouri State University, S, 3.93 GPA; Jason Schneider, South Dakota State University, WR, 3.98 GPA; Esley Thorton, North Dakota State University, LB, 3.92 GPA; and Zach Zenner, South Dakota State University, RB, 3.86 GPA.

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