DES MOINES, Iowa – Drake University football student-athletes Brett Park (Olivette, Mo.) and Taylor Coleman (Hawthorn Woods, Ill.) have been named to the Capital One/CoSIDA Academic All-District Team for their efforts in the classroom and on the field. As District 6 first-team honorees, both Park and Coleman are now eligible to receive Capital One/CoSIDA Academic All-America honors.
Park, a fifth-year defensive lineman, has anchored the defensive line of a unit that ranks 17th nationally by allowing just 301.7 yards per game and a minute 84.7 rushing yards per game to conference opponents. Individually, he has recorded 33 tackles with 6.0 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks this season. Academically, maintains a 3.70 grade point average as a finance major and is a four-time PFL honor roll selection.
Coleman, a junior linebacker who is in his first season starting for the Bulldogs, leads the team with 69 tackles to rank eighth in the Pioneer Football League. He has also recorded six tackles for loss and a career-high 12 tackles in the win over Truman State plus 11 tackles against San Diego. Coleman maintains a sterling 4.0 GPA as a finance major and is one of just nine Division I All-District honorees to achieve a 4.0 GPA.
To be eligible for Academic All-America® consideration, a student-athlete must be a varsity starter or key reserve, maintain a cumulative G.P.A. of 3.30 on a scale of 4.00, have reached sophomore athletic and academic standings at his/her current institution and be nominated by his/her sports information director. Since the program's inception in 1952, CoSIDA has bestowed Academic All-America honors on more than 20,000 student-athletes in Divisions I, II, III and NAIA, covering all NCAA championship sports. Drake football has had eight student-athletes earn a total of 10 Academic All-America honors.
Coleman and Park return to action on the field this Saturday, Nov. 8, at Dayton in the 31st meeting between the charter PFL members. Kickoff is set for noon, CST.
