Chris Ganious

Vermillion, S.D. – South Dakota football’s Chris Ganious has been named to the Football Championship Subdivision Athletics Directors Association Academic All-Star Team, the association announced today. Ganious was one of just 55 players in the FCS division to earn the honor.

Ganious, a sophomore psychology major, was also named an ESPN the Magazine Academic All-American in late November. He has earned a 3.816 cumulative grade-point average through the 2009 spring semester, and also represented USD at the NCAA National Student-Athlete Leadership Conference in May 2009.

A running back on the field, Ganious led the Coyotes in rushing yards the last two seasons. This fall he posted 828 yards and four touchdowns on 148 attempts to earn All-Great West Conference first-team honors. He also earned Great West Offensive Player-of-the-Week honors after posting a career-high 193 rushing yards on 25 carries in USD’s 45-21 win over Southern Utah. He also caught 23 passes for 266 yards and one touchdown to help the Coyotes post a 5-5 overall record during the season.

Nominees for the FCS ADA Academic All-Star Team were required to have a minimum grade-point average of 3.20 in undergraduate study and have been a starter or key player with legitimate athletics credentials. He must have reached his 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.