Via UND.com
NOTRE DAME, Indiana - University of Notre Dame junior safety Drue Tranquill has earned the distinction of being named to the 2016 Academic All-America Division I Football Team, as chosen by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA).
It is the first time Tranquill has received the honor and he becomes the first Notre Dame player to be honored since wide receiver Corey Robinson earned first-team accolades in 2014.
Tranquill, from Fort Wayne, Indiana, started all 12 games at safety for the Irish this season. He led the team with 52 solo tackles and ranked second in total tackles with 79. Tranquill added two pass breakups, two tackles for loss and one interception. His 79 stops this season fall just outside of the top-10 single-season tackle totals for an Irish defensive back. Glenn Earl (2002) and Brian Magee (1994) are tied for 10th with 81 tackles.
Tranquill returned to the starting lineup in 2016 after season-ending ACL injuries in both 2014 and 2015. He registered a career-high 13 tackles in Notre Dame's 50-33 rout of Syracuse. Tranquill recorded 10 tackles and an interception against Virginia Tech.
Enrolled in the College of Engineering as a mechanical engineering major, Tranquill has a 3.74 grade-point average and has been on the Dean's List two of four semesters at Notre Dame. He was named a CoSIDA Academic All-District honoree in 2015.
A 2016 Wuerffel Trophy and Lott Trophy candidate, Tranquill is involved in numerous off-the-field community service programs. He serves as a mentor for the Core Leadership Team for Lifeworks Ministry, is a member of Notre Dame Christian Athletes, Team Fellowship, AWP Sports in his native Fort Wayne, and is an athlete ambassador for Dream Teams. He is a also member of the Student-Athlete Advisory Council (SAAC) and Rosenthal Leadership Academy.
This season, Tranquill launched the "5th Quarter" post-game event, giving him the opportunity to share his story of perseverance with the South Bend community at the Granger Oasis Church.
Tranquill becomes the 60th Notre Dame player to earn Academic All-America honors. The 60 all-time citations are third only to Nebraska and Penn State.
To be eligible for Academic All-America consideration, a student-athlete must be a varsity starter or key reserve, maintain a cumulative grade-point average of at least 3.30 on a scale of 4.00, have reached sophomore athletic and academic status 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 16,000 student-athletes in Division I, II, III and NAIA, covering all NCAA championship sports.
NOTRE DAME, Indiana - University of Notre Dame junior safety Drue Tranquill has earned the distinction of being named to the 2016 Academic All-America Division I Football Team, as chosen by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA).
It is the first time Tranquill has received the honor and he becomes the first Notre Dame player to be honored since wide receiver Corey Robinson earned first-team accolades in 2014.
Tranquill, from Fort Wayne, Indiana, started all 12 games at safety for the Irish this season. He led the team with 52 solo tackles and ranked second in total tackles with 79. Tranquill added two pass breakups, two tackles for loss and one interception. His 79 stops this season fall just outside of the top-10 single-season tackle totals for an Irish defensive back. Glenn Earl (2002) and Brian Magee (1994) are tied for 10th with 81 tackles.
Tranquill returned to the starting lineup in 2016 after season-ending ACL injuries in both 2014 and 2015. He registered a career-high 13 tackles in Notre Dame's 50-33 rout of Syracuse. Tranquill recorded 10 tackles and an interception against Virginia Tech.
Enrolled in the College of Engineering as a mechanical engineering major, Tranquill has a 3.74 grade-point average and has been on the Dean's List two of four semesters at Notre Dame. He was named a CoSIDA Academic All-District honoree in 2015.
A 2016 Wuerffel Trophy and Lott Trophy candidate, Tranquill is involved in numerous off-the-field community service programs. He serves as a mentor for the Core Leadership Team for Lifeworks Ministry, is a member of Notre Dame Christian Athletes, Team Fellowship, AWP Sports in his native Fort Wayne, and is an athlete ambassador for Dream Teams. He is a also member of the Student-Athlete Advisory Council (SAAC) and Rosenthal Leadership Academy.
This season, Tranquill launched the "5th Quarter" post-game event, giving him the opportunity to share his story of perseverance with the South Bend community at the Granger Oasis Church.
Tranquill becomes the 60th Notre Dame player to earn Academic All-America honors. The 60 all-time citations are third only to Nebraska and Penn State.
To be eligible for Academic All-America consideration, a student-athlete must be a varsity starter or key reserve, maintain a cumulative grade-point average of at least 3.30 on a scale of 4.00, have reached sophomore athletic and academic status 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 16,000 student-athletes in Division I, II, III and NAIA, covering all NCAA championship sports.
