The NCAA News - News and Features

January 6, 1997

Postgraduate scholarships awarded in football

Postgraduate scholarships of $5,000 each have been awarded by the NCAA to 35 football players at member institutions.

The NCAA annually awards 174 postgraduate scholarships to student-athletes who have excelled academically and athletically and who are in their last year of intercollegiate athletics competition.

In addition to the 35 football honorees, the NCAA awards grants to 32 basketball players (16 each for men and women) and to 107 student-athletes participating in sports other than football and basketball (36 for men and 71 for women) in which the NCAA conducts championships.

Of the 35 football scholarships, 13 are awarded to Division I student-athletes, 13 are awarded in Divisions II and III and the remaining nine are awarded at large.

To qualify for an NCAA postgraduate scholarship, a student-athlete must have an overall grade-point average of 3.000 (4.000 scale) or its equivalent and must have performed with distinction as a member of the varsity team in the sport in which the student-athlete was nominated. The student-athlete also must intend to continue academic work beyond the baccalaureate degree as a full-time graduate student.

In addition, the student-athlete must have behaved, both on and off the field, in a manner that has brought credit to the student-athlete, the institution and intercollegiate athletics.

Following is a complete list of the 1996-97 NCAA postgraduate scholarship winners for football, with school, major and notable accomplishments:

Division I

Greg Ernest Bellisari, Ohio State University -- zoology major; all-Big Ten Conference linebacker for Buckeyes' 1996 Rose Bowl team; 1996 team captain; Butkus Award finalist; two-time GTE Academic All-America and two-time Big Ten all-academic choice; plans to pursue graduate degree in medicine.

Michael James Bouchee, University of Montana -- business administration major; all-Big Sky Conference linebacker who helped guide Grizzlies to 1996 Division I-AA title game; leading tackler in 1995; all-Big Sky Conference academic selection; will attend law school next fall.

John Alfred Cowan Jr., Davidson College -- physics major; four-year starter at offensive tackle; also spent significant time at defensive end; Davidson's most outstanding offensive player in 1995; three-time member of Southern Conference honor roll; will attend medical school next fall.

Patrick John Fitzgerald, University of Texas at Austin -- marketing major; 1995 Sporting News and The Associated Press all-American; holds school career mark for touchdowns by a tight end; caught three touchdown passes against Notre Dame in 1995; GTE Academic All-America; plans to pursue career in professional football, then obtain graduate degree in law or business.

Carlton Henry Hendrix, U.S. Air Force Academy -- environmental engineering major; offensive guard who helped Falcons to Western Athletic Conference rushing titles in 1994 and 1995, and second-place finish nationally in 1996; two-time all-WAC academic pick; plans to continue postgraduate studies in environmental engineering.

David James Janoski, University of Washington -- computer science major; a leading receiver for the Huskies in 1995 with 40 catches for 657 yards; ranks in top 10 on school career receiving charts; 1996 team captain; all-Pacific-10 Conference academic choice; plans to pursue graduate degree at Washington in 1998.

Matthew Edward Keneley, University of Southern California -- public policy, management and planning major; 1995 honorable mention all-Pacific-10 Conference defensive tackle; more than 30 tackles for losses during four-year career; GTE Academic All-America; will pursue law degree.

Chad Wayne Lewis, Brigham Young University -- communication studies major; all-Western Athletic Conference tight end for the 1996 Cotton Bowl-bound Cougars; has logged more than 30 receptions in each of last three years; two-time all-WAC academic selection; recipient of BYU's John A. Farley Memorial Award; will pursue graduate degree in organizational behavior.

Blaine Richard McElmurry, University of Montana -- microbiology major; all-Big Sky Conference free safety; Golden Helmet Award winner in 1995; named 1996 preseason Big Sky defensive player of the year by Bob Griese College Football Yearbook; three-time all-Big Sky scholar; plans to attend medical school next fall.

Brandon Ray Semones, Virginia Polytechnic and State University -- marketing education major; logged more than 30 unassisted tackles this season, more than 10 for losses; instrumental in Virginia Tech's 1995 Big East Conference championship and 28-10 victory over Texas in USF&G Sugar Bowl; will pursue graduate degree in business administration.

Marc Elliot Washington Jr., Princeton University -- civil engineering and operations research major; all-Ivy Group running back; more than 14 career touchdowns scored; among Princeton's top-five career rushers; all-Ivy academic choice; will seek master's degree in business administration.

Daniel Carl Wuerffel, University of Florida -- public relations major; 1996 Heisman Trophy winner; two-time Southeastern Conference offensive player of the year; 1996 NCAA Today's Top VIII Award winner; all-time NCAA leader in passing efficiency; set Florida and SEC records in touchdown passes; two-time GTE Academic All-America Team Member of the Year; will seek career in NFL, then pursue graduate study in law or business administration.

Wayne Nolan Wyatt, University of Arizona -- philosophy/general business major; starting center for Wildcats; graduated summa cum laude in August; all-Pacific-10 Conference academic selection; National Football Foundation scholar-athlete award recipient; currently working on master's degree in business administration at Arizona.

Divisions II and III

Morgan R. Bannister, University of Redlands -- psychology major; starting free safety and team captain; among team leaders in unassisted tackles; his five interceptions led the squad in 1995; all-Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference selection; plans to pursue a degree in medicine at the University of California, Los Angeles, beginning in 1998.

Ryan S. Carpenter, Augustana College (Illinois)--physics, math and computer science major; four-year letterwinner at offensive guard and 1996 team captain; 1995 all-College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin selection; 1996 GTE at-large Academic All-America Team Member of the Year; also all-American in track and field; intends to seek graduate degree in physics.

Lon Robert Erickson, Illinois Wesleyan University -- business administration major; four-year letterwinner at quarterback and 1996 team captain; holds school record for touchdown passes in a game with six; has more than 40 career touchdown passes; among leaders in Division III passing efficiency; will study business administration in graduate school.

Christopher Michael Esterley, University of St. Thomas (Minnesota) -- business administration major; set Division III record for passing efficiency in 1995 game against St. Olaf College; two-time all-Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference academic choice; will begin graduate study at the St. Thomas Institute for Small Business next fall.

Mark Richard Grieb, University of California, Davis -- biochemistry major; first Harlon Hill Trophy finalist in school history; among leaders in Division II passing efficiency and total offense; UC Davis' single-season record holder in passing yards with 3,230; will begin graduate study in biomedical sciences next fall.

Troy Daniel Harcey, University of Wisconsin, La Crosse -- elementary education major; four-year letterwinner at receiver and 1996 team captain; among national leaders in receptions per game; hauled in 80 catches for Wisconsin-La Crosse's championship team in 1995; GTE Academic All-America; intends to continue graduate study in elementary education.

Kyle Alexander Klein, Albion College -- economics and management major; quarterbacked 1994 team to Division III title; Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Conference offensive player of the year in 1996; among Division III leaders in passing efficiency and total offense; 1996 Gagliardi Trophy finalist; will obtain master's degree in business administration.

Thomas Paul Langer, University of North Dakota -- mathematics major; four-year starter at fullback and also played on special teams; 1996 honorable mention all-North Central Conference selection; two-time all-NCC academic choice; plans to obtain master's degree in mathematics before seeking a career in secondary education.

Mitchell Ray Pruett, Augustana College (South Dakota) -- biology major; team captain and second-team all-North Central Conference pick at receiver; team's second leading receiver in 1995 with 53 catches for 644 yards and six touchdowns; two-time all-NCC academic selection; will begin graduate study at the University of Iowa College of Medicine next fall.

Nicholas Sean Reiser, Allegheny College -- biology major; four-year starter at defensive end and outside linebacker who helped lead Allegheny to 38-5 record, three North Coast Athletic Conference championships and three NCAA tournament berths during his career; named 1996 NCAC defensive player of the year; team leader in tackles for two consecutive seasons; will seek master's degree in physical therapy.

Justin Chad Rice, Nebraska Wesleyan University -- biology major; all-Nebraska-Iowa Athletic Conference defensive end; led conference in quarterback sacks in 1995; has logged more than 150 career tackles; two-time GTE Academic All-America; will attend medical school next fall.

Greg Alan Teale, Northwest Missouri State University -- chemistry major; all-time school leader in total offense and ranks sixth in that category in Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association history; a 1996 all-MIAA selection and academic choice, Teale also was Northwest Missouri State's student-athlete of the year in 1995-96; will begin study at the University of Nebraska Medical Center next fall.

Timothy Joseph Tibesar, University of North Dakota -- business economics major; two-time all-North Central Conference linebacker; one of two Division II players given scholar-athlete awards by the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame; NCC student-athlete of the year in 1995-96; three-time all-NCC academic choice; will seek graduate degree in business.

At large

Derek David Beres, The Citadel -- business administration major; four-year starting offensive tackle; among team leaders in downfield blocks; two-time all-Southern Conference selection; voted Citadel's most outstanding student-athlete in 1995-96; December 1995 graduate who will attend South Carolina's master of international business program in June.

Bren Holloway Chambers, Nebraska Wesleyan University -- biopsychology major; four-year letterwinner and starting linebacker; more than 250 career tackles; three-time team captain; also four-year letterwinner and two-time all-Nebraska-Iowa Athletic Conference selection in track and field; plans to seek master's degree in family counseling.

Craig Michael Dues, University of Toledo -- civil engineering major; all-Mid-American Conference strong safety; tied for eighth nationally with eight interceptions last year and helped Toledo lead the country in turnover margin; 1996 team captain; all-MAC academic choice; will pursue graduate work in either civil engineering or business administration.

Ryan David Egeland, Colorado College -- chemistry and biochemistry major; starting offensive tackle; 1996 preseason all-American; U.S. Department of Education National Science Scholar; fifth-place national finish in Westinghouse Science Talent Search; will pursue career in biomedical research.

Marlon Sean Evans, Stanford University -- political science/sociology major; a standout on kick returns; averaged nearly 28 yards per return in 1995, including one for a touchdown; all-Pacific-10 Conference academic selection; received bachelor's degree in political science and will obtain master's degree in sociology in June before attending law school.

Jonathan Andrew Hesse, University of Nebraska, Lincoln -- psychology major; starting middle linebacker for the two-time national-champion Cornhuskers; among leading tacklers for 1996 squad bound for Federal Express Orange Bowl; three-time all-Big Eight Conference academic choice; will seek master's degree in business administration.

Devin John Kendall, Arizona State University -- communication major; starting tight end for Sun Devils team vying for national championship in Rose Bowl; also returns kicks; on course to graduate magna cum laude in May; plans to pursue master's degree in organizational communication or management next fall.

Patrick Michael Rodkey, Gannon University -- biology major; starting linebacker who led squad in tackles in 1995; is among leaders again this year with 70 after just six games; logged school-record 20 stops against Mercyhurst; caused six fumbles in 1995; will seek graduate degree in physical therapy and sports medicine beginning in June.

Michael Jeremy Schellenberger, University of Kentucky -- finance major; starting linebacker with more than 150 career tackles; 1995 UK most outstanding linebacker award; GTE Academic All-America; began master's in business administration program at Kentucky this fall and plans to attend law school in future.

Alternates

John Field Scovell III, Texas Tech University; David A. Streeter Jr., College of the Holy Cross; Jason James Kinzler, Grand Valley State University; Carl David Dean, San Jose State University.