Taylor Football Tops Nation with 15 Academic All-District Honors
UPLAND, Ind. – The Taylor football program led all NAIA and NCAA football programs in the nation with a program-record 15 CoSIDA Academic All-District awards, as recently announced by College Sports Information Directors of America.
Sean Callahan, Stephen Ellis, Grant Gerig, Elijah Gurley, Hutson Hohlbein, Brendan Lamb, Titus Martin, Michael Medlock, Josh Saltzgaber, Zac Saltzgaber, Zane Shilts, Justin Tolle, Bryce Vasvari, Tyler Watson and Hojun Yun all represented Taylor on the prestigious list, helping the Trojans edge NCAA Division III Johns Hopkins by one for the most awards in the nation across all levels.
In addition to leading all colleges in CoSIDA Academic All-District honors and being one of only two programs in the nation to have at least 10 awards, Taylor accounted for 15 of the 28 total honors received by the Mid-States Football Association, easily distancing Concordia’s tally of seven and Olivet Nazarene’s third-highest league total of three.
The Taylor football program has now claimed 63 CoSIDA Academic All-District nods in the past eight seasons, while the program-record 15 honors in 2021 upped Taylor University’s NAIA and NCAA-leading overall total to 32 awards from the sports of football, volleyball and men’s and women’s soccer.
Callahan collected his second CoSIDA Academic All-District award in as many years with a 3.68 cumulative grade-point average in sport management. The junior continued his role as a long snapper for the TU special teams unit.
Ellis boasts a 4.00 cumulative GPA in management and earned the CoSIDA honor in his first year of eligibility. The sophomore running back averaged 4.7 yards per rush and found the end zone seven times.
Gerig claimed CoSIDA Academic All-District accolades for a fourth-straight year with a 3.75 GPA in elementary education. The first-semester grad student and wide receiver averaged 14.2 yards per carry and 11.0 yards per reception as a key playmaker in TU’s offense.
Gurley was one of five TU starters on the offensive line to be named CoSIDA Academic All-District. The senior left tackle took his first CoSIDA nod by starting all 10 games for the Trojans and owning a 3.61 cumulative GPA in management.
Hohlbein made his first appearance on the CoSIDA Academic All-District list with a 3.96 GPA in political science, philosophy and economics. The sophomore wide receiver averaged 17.6 yards per catch in 2021.
Lamb also collected his first CoSIDA Academic All-District award with a 3.96 grade-point average in management and marketing. The second-year running back averaged 84.0 yards per game and tallied seven touchdowns.
Martin took the honor for a second-straight year, after maintaining a 3.30 cumulative GPA in management and marketing. The senior left guard helped Taylor end the regular season ranked No. 17 in the NAIA with 24 rushing touchdowns.
Medlock was named CoSIDA Academic All-District for the first time with a 3.80 grade-point average in art education. The junior center helped a powerful TU ground game rush for at least 115 yards in nine-of-10 contests.
Saltzgaber earned a third Academic All-District award from CoSIDA and owns a cumulative GPA of 3.75 in social studies education. The senior linebacker started all 10 games for the Purple and Gold and logged 84 tackles, seven hits for lost yardage and two interceptions.
Saltzgaber collected a second CoSIDA Academic All-District award with his cumulative 3.67 GPA in finance. The senior started nine games for Taylor at the quarterback position in 2021, marking his third-straight season as a starter.
Shilts earned the honor for a second time in as many years, handling the kicking duties for Taylor and posting a cumulative GPA of 3.45 in computer engineering. The junior connected on four field goals and went a perfect 29-of-29 in point-after attempts.
Tolle took CoSIDA Academic All-District honors for the first time, with a 3.60 grade-point average in management. The senior right guard was a key piece in Taylor averaging over 180 rushing yards per game during the fall campaign.
Vasvari rounded out TU’s list of five offensive lineman to take the honor, boasting a cumulative GPA of 3.61 in biology science education. The junior right tackle’s efforts helped Taylor turn in two games with over 300 yards on the ground and three outings with over 250 rushing yards.
Watson was named CoSIDA Academic All-District for a second time for his 3.87 cumulative GPA in human physiology and preventative medicine. The senior cornerback posted 55 tackles during his final collegiate campaign, adding six pass breakups and one interception.
Yun rounded out the list of 15 Trojans to be named CoSIDA Academic All-District with a 3.97 cumulative GPA in exercise science. The sophomore safety claimed his first honor and closed the year with 29 tackles and two interceptions in the TU secondary.
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 CoSIDA members.
The 15 Taylor student-athletes will each advance to the ballot for CoSIDA Academic All-American honors, with that list set to be announced on December 17.
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