Jan. 31, 2010
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The Commodore football team topped the Southeastern Conference in the league’s 2009 Fall Academic Honor Roll released by Commissioner Mike Slive Friday.
The league named 37 Commodore football players as recipients of SEC 2009 Fall Academic Honor Roll status. The Alabama and Georgia football programs were tied for second behind Vanderbilt with 31 recipients each.
Vanderbilt Head Coach Bobby Johnson was pleased the Commodores again paced the conference in this important academic ranking.
“I am extremely pleased that Vanderbilt football players, and all of our Commodore student-athletes, continue to be academic leaders in the SEC,” Johnson said. “Our university places the utmost importance on academic success, and ultimate graduation, by its student-athletes.”
Members of the Vanderbilt football team named to the academic honor roll are:
– Seniors: Chris Aaron, Mackenzi Adams, Bo Baggarley, Patrick Benoist, Joel Caldwell, Ryan Custer, Chris DeGeorge, Ryan Hamilton, Jared Hawkins, Chris Johnson, Gaston Miller, Chris Reinert, Steven Stone, Brett Upson, Bradley Vierling, Alex Washington, Thomas Welch
– Juniors: Davis Flowers, Jared Funk, David Giller, Tray Herndon, John Stokes, Rich Tompkins, Udom Umoh, Turner Wimberly
– Sophomores: T.J. Greenstone, Reece Lovell, Austin Monahan, Dan Sutton, Duane Vaughn
– Freshmen: Charlie Byrge, John Cole, Ryan Fowler, Josh Jelesky, Colt Nichter, Tristan Strong, Caleb Welchans.
Johnson’s squad has earned numerous accolades for its work in the classroom, including receiving the 2008 Academic Achievement Trophy from the American Football Coaches Association as the national leader in graduation rates.