Three Cougars Named Academic All-District

PROVO -- ESPN the Magazine announced its Academic All-District Football Teams on Thursday, a list that included three seniors on the BYU football team. Linebacker Matt Bauman, defensive lineman Brett Denney and defensive back Scott Johnson were all voted to the District 8 First Team and are now eligible for Academic All-America consideration.

Both Bauman and Johnson received district honors in 2008, with Bauman going on to earn Academic All-America distinction.

Majoring in finance, Bauman has a 3.91 GPA, the second-highest on the team. A team captain, he has started seven of BYU’s eight games this season after starting all 13 in 2008. The native of Salt Lake City is a three-time Academic All-Mountain West Conference selection and a two-time MWC Scholar Athlete. Bauman plans to attend business school following graduation and has already been named a 2009 National Scholar Athlete by the National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame.

Also majoring in finance, Denney is in his final semester as an undergraduate. A native of Thornton, Colo., he has been named to the Academic All-MWC team and a MWC Scholar Athlete the past three years. In his third season starting for the Cougars, Denney currently has two sacks on the season along with a fumble recovery he recorded in BYU’s 14-13 win over No. 3 Oklahoma.

Johnson, an exercise science major, has started seven games this season to go along with the nine he started in 2008. A three-time Academic All-MWC selection and two-time MWC Scholar Athlete, he plans to attend medical school following graduation. Johnson leads the team with three interceptions, including two in the Cougars’ 59-21 win over UNLV. He is currently second on the team with 42 tackles, 31 of those solo takedowns.

BYU’s three honored players is second-most in District 8, behind only Fresno State’s five.

Players are nominated by the respective sports information directors at each institution and are required to have at least a 3.30 GPA. They must be starters or significant contributors and have spent at least one full calendar year at their current institution.

Voting for the national Academic All-America ballot begins on Nov. 10, with the final teams released on Nov. 24.