KLOBUCHER NAMED TO NATIONAL SCHOLAR-ATHLETE CLASS

Ferris State Standout Becomes A 2006 Draddy Trophy Finalist

Mike Klobucher (Grand Haven/North Muskegon), a senior middle linebacker on the 2006 Ferris State University football team, is among 17 college football student-athletes to comprise the 2006 National Scholar-Athlete Class in an announcement made Thursday (Oct. 26) by The National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame (NFF).

Klobucher will now vie as a finalist for the 2006 Draddy Trophy, which is presented by HealthSouth, and will be awarded to college football's top scholar-athlete. One of college football's most sought after and competitive awards, the Draddy Trophy recognizes an individual as the absolute best in the country for his combined academic success, football performance and exemplary community leadership.

As a result of being a national scholar-athlete, Klobucher will receive an $18,000 postgraduate scholarship and be recognized at the 49th annual NFF Awards Dinner on Tuesday, Dec. 5, at the Waldorf-Astoria in New York City. He joins defensive end Ryan Meredith of Pittsburg (Kan.) State University as the only individuals from NCAA Division II-playing institutions.

The recipients were selected by the National Football Foundation's Awards Committee, which consists of former coaches, College Football Hall of Fame members and college athletics administrators.

With a 3.7 average GPA, 13 of the players have earned all-conference recognition on the field and 15 of them have served as captains of their teams. Nominated by their schools, which are limited to one nominee each, candidates must be a senior or graduate student in their final year of eligibility, have a grade point average of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale, have outstanding football ability as a first team player and have demonstrated strong leadership and citizenship.

"We take great pride in providing each member of the scholar-athlete class with a coveted $18,000 scholarship for their post-graduate studies," said NFF President Steve J. Hatchell. "They have set the standard for their teammates and for all who play sports. By highlighting their achievements, we hope to inspire future generations of student-athletes to higher levels of achievement in all aspects of their lives."

A two-time (2004-05) Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) All-Academic Team honoree, Klobucher was the 2005 Ferris football team's recipient of the FSU President's Academic Award for having the highest team GPA after being a co-winner of the honor the previous two seasons (2003-04). He also was named to the 2005 ESPN The Magazine Academic District IV First Team as selected by the College Sports Information Director of America (CoSIDA). Klobucher is also active in the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) while serving as a volunteer for the Guiding Light Mission and the Muskegon (Mich.) Rescue Mission.

Klobucher, a two-time (2004-05) All-GLIAC Honorable Mention pick, was honored as both the Bulldogs' Most Valuable Player and Most Valuable Defensive Skill Player in 2005 after pacing the team in tackles for the second straight season. The two-time (2005-06) FSU Defensive co-captain presently ranks ninth among the school's all-time tackles leaders with 362 total stops (189 solo) in 39 career appearances.

*2006 NFF National Scholar-Athlete Class Release* PDF