Football | 12/12/2017 3:09:00 PM

SHIPPENSBURG, Pa. – Shippensburg University graduate running back Colin McDermott was named Tuesday to the 2017-18 Academic All-America ™ Division II Football First Team, making him the first Red Raider to achieve the classification since John Kuhn in 2004.
 
McDermott graduated in May with a degree in supply chain management and is now studying toward his MBA. His cumulative grade-point average (GPA) is 3.71.
 
In 2017, McDermott had a career year in which he totaled more carries (146), receptions (24), rushing yards (736) and rushing touchdowns (8) than in his first three seasons combined. Overall, in 36 games as a Red Raider, McDermott totaled 1,144 rushing yards and 15 rushing touchdowns.
 
McDermott ranked ninth in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) in rushing touchdowns (8) and 15th in the PSAC in rushing yards per game (61.3) despite splitting carries with his Academic All-District™ teammate, senior Cole Chiappialle. He also totaled 24 receptions for 151 yards, averaging 6.3 yards per catch.
 
The Academic All- America ™ program is a prestigious honor that is annually voted on by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA). The purpose of the program is to recognize the nation's top student-athletes for their combined performances athletically and in the classroom.
 
To qualify, a student-athlete must be a sophomore or older who maintains a cumulative 3.30 GPA or higher and have participated in at least 50 percent of the team's games.
 
There are four Division II Academic All-District™ Football teams, one for each of the NCAA's Super Regions. From those four teams (announced Nov. 18), an Academic All-America™ team comprised of 50 total honorees is selected annually. McDermott is one of four Division II running backs to receive this year's Academic All-America ™ classification.
 
McDermott and fellow 2017 honoree Ryan Zapoticky become the eighth and ninth unique Academic All-Americans™ in school history and the first Red Raiders to receive the designation since running back Mike Frenette in 2012. He is the third Academic All-America™ running back in school history along with Frenette (2011, 2012) and Kuhn (2003, 2004). It is also the third time in school history that SU has had multiple Academic All-Americans™ in the same season (1982, 1995).
 
SHIP Football Academic All-Americans
9 Unique Academic All-Americans
13 Total Academic All-America Awards
 
1975
Tony Winter, LB (Second Team)

1976
Tony Winter, LB (First Team)

1982
Dave Butler, DL (First Team)
Dave Schanbacher, OL (Second Team)

1994
Joel Yohn, K (First Team)

1995
Joel Yohn, K (First Team)
Chris Bickel, DB (Second Team)
 
2003
John Kuhn, RB (First Team)

2004
John Kuhn, RB (First Team)
 
2011
Mike Frenette, RB (Second Team)

2012
Mike Frenette, RB (Second Team)
 
2017
Colin McDermott, RB (First Team)
Ryan Zapoticky, QB (Second Team)