July 1, 2021

TU Football Hauls in Eight Academic All-District Awards

UPLAND, Ind. – The Taylor football program earned eight CoSIDA Academic All-District honors recently, with Drew LeFever, Grant Gerig, Zachery Huse, Titus Martin, Zane Shilts, Josh Saltzgaber, Spencer Corrona and Sean Callahan all representing TU on the prestigious list.

The eight awards gave Taylor the second-best total of any NAIA football program, trailing only the nine honors gathered by College of Idaho. Taylor and Idaho were the only two schools with more than five honors in the entire NAIA and TU led all of District II, which consists of NAIA schools from the states of Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi and Tennessee.

The Taylor football program has now claimed 48 CoSIDA Academic All-District honors in the past seven years, while the eight recent awards boost Taylor University's 2020-2021 NAIA-leading total to 19 from the sports of football, volleyball, soccer, and basketball.

LeFever posted a 3.34 cumulative grade-point average in management and marketing. The senior running back played to Second-Team All-MSFA Mideast League accolades this spring by rushing for 53.3 yards per game and 4.7 yards per touch.

Gerig earned a third-straight CoSIDA Academic All-District nod with a 3.75 GPA in elementary education. The senior wide receiver saw time in all five of TU's contests, catching seven passes for 62 yards and also leading the squad with 15 kick returns.

Huse also repeated as a CoSIDA Academic All-District selection with a 3.83 grade-point average in mathematics. The senior center helped the Trojans rank No. 11 in the NAIA with just eight sacks allowed this season.

Martin posted a 3.30 grade-point average in management throughout his time in Upland. The senior left guard earned First-Team All-MSFA Mideast League honors this spring, after helping TU eclipse the 100-yard barrier on the ground in all but one game.

Shilts boasts a 3.45 GPA in computer engineering through his first two years at TU. The sophomore kicker made all five of his point-after attempts and also averaged 52.8 yards per kickoff over 10 tries.

Saltzgaber garnered his second CoSIDA Academic All-District award with a 3.75 GPA in social studies education. The senior linebacker also earned Second-Team All-MSFA Mideast League attention this spring by picking up 43 tackles over TU's five outings.

Corrona posted a 3.90 grade-point average in exercise science to gain attention as a CoSIDA Academic All-District performer. The sophomore cornerback played in each of TU's five games, picking up 17 total tackles and breaking up two passes.

Callahan rounded out TU's group of eight student-athletes on the 25-man list in District II with a 3.68 GPA in sport management. The sophomore long snapper and defensive lineman played a major role in the play of TU special teams unit.

The CoSIDA Academic All-District award is designed to showcase student-athletes for outstanding work in the classroom, as well as on the field or court of play. In order to be eligible for the honor, an athlete must have a cumulative grade-point average of 3.30, must have reached sophomore status academically with at least one full year at their current institution and must have participated in over half of the team's contests as a key contributor during the current season.

Student-athletes are nominated for the award by their institution's Sports Information Department and selected via a national vote by members of CoSIDA.

LeFever, Gerig, Huse, Martin, Shilts, Saltzgaber, Corrona and Callahan will now advance to the ballot for CoSIDA Academic All-American honors, which are set to be announced on July 15.