Dec. 18, 2009

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. - Samford senior defensive back Ty Levie was one of 55 players named to the 12th annual Football Championship Subdivision Athletics Directors Association Academic All-Star Team when the FCSADA released the team at the Division I FCS Championship on Friday.

Members of the team were nominated by their respective institutions. Each of the nominees were required to have a minimum grade point average of 3.20 (on a 4.00 scale) in undergraduate study and have been a starter or key player with legitimate athletics credentials.

Nominees must have reached their second year of athletics and academic standing at the nominated institution and have completed a minimum of one full academic year at the nominated institution. He must also have participated in 50 percent of the games played at his designated position.

Levie, a native of LaFayette, Ga., has a 3.56 grade-point average in biology at Samford. Levie was also named to the ESPN The Magazine's Academic All-District team in both 2008 and 2009, and he was named to the Southern Conference's Fall Academic All-Conference team in 2008.

On the field, Levie finished the season fourth on the team in tackles with 42, including 33 solo stops. For his Samford career, Levie had six interceptions and three fumble recoveries.

Levie's honor marks the third time in the last four years a Samford player has been named to the team. Levie was one of only two players from the state of Alabama named to the team, and he was one of five players from Southern Conference teams to make the team.

FCS ATHLETICS DIRECTORS ASSOCIATION ACADEMIC ALL-STAR TEAM MEMBERS FROM SOCON SCHOOLS
A.J. Harris, Elon, 3.30 GPA
Ty Levie, Samford, 3.56 GPA
Jordan Gilmore, The Citadel, 3.24 GPA
Steven Smigelsky, Tennessee-Chattanooga, 3.49 GPA
Mitch Allen, Wofford, 3.88 GPA

FCS ATHLETICS DIRECTORS ASSOCIATION ACADEMIC ALL-STAR TEAM MEMBERS FROM ALABAMA
Josh Cain, Jacksonville State, 3.89 GPA
Ty Levie, Samford, 3.56 GPA