Northern Colorado's Thomas Named to ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District Football Second Team

Nov. 9, 2006

GREELEY, Colo. - University of Northern Colorado senior defensive back Matt Thomas (Westminster, Colo.) was named to the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District Football University Division District VII second team, selected by CoSIDA and announced Thursday by coordinating officials.

Thomas, who has a 3.91 GPA in economics, has started in all nine of the Bears games this season and is fifth on the team in total tackles with 43, including two for a loss. He also has two pass breakups to his credit. He recorded a season-high eight tackles against Western Illinois on Sept. 23.

Thomas is the third Northern Colorado student-athlete honored by ESPN The Magazine and CoSIDA this season. Volleyball student-athlete Meredith Alder and soccer student-athlete Marika Johnson were also both second-team selections.

Thomas was one of 47 players selected from District VII and scattered over two teams. District VII includes schools in the states of Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wyoming, and the Canadian provinces of Alberta and Saskatchewan.

Selections are open to student-athletes who have reached sophomore academic standing and carry at least a 3.20 G.P.A. The University Division includes all Division I schools.

The academic all-district team honors student-athletes who excel both on the playing field and in the classroom. The awards are sponsored by and voted on by the members of the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA).