Joseph Davidson Named First Team Academic All-American

Full CoSIDA Release

Bowling Green, Ohio – Bowling Green State University punter Joseph Davidson was named Academic All-American by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) today. He is one of 10 BGSU Football players in program history to be named an Academic All-American, but just the fourth to be named to the first team.

"It is an honor to be recognized as part of the CoSIDA Academic All-American First Team," Davidson said. "Being a part of such a special group of not-only-athletes, but also tremendous students is very humbling. Balancing academics and athletics well can be very challenging at times, but it has been instilled in me that academics always come first because, after all, a degree is what I came to BGSU to get. Poor academics can lead to not even seeing the football field and keeping that thought in my head has been motivation to doing well in the classroom before focusing on the athletic side of things."

Davidson holds a 3.94 grade point average with a double major in mathematics and finance. But his classroom success is matched by his on-field ability. Davidson was a top 10 semifinalist for the Ray Guy Award, given annually to the best punter in college football. He led the nation with nine punts of 60 yards or more and his 82-yard punt at Toledo is tied for the longest by an FBS punter this year.

Davidson averaged 45.8 yards per punt this year, good for sixth in the country, and his net punting average of 43.1 yards is second nationally. He has 19 punts of 50 yards or more and dropped 21 of his 61 punts inside the 20.

"I owe a majority of my academic success to the people around me," Davidson said. "From my parents supporting and helping me every step of the way to coaches, friends, teammates, and academic advisers, thank you for all of the support you have given me over the past several years."

Davidson joins Tyler Tate (2014), Patrick John Jackson (1989, 1990) and John Boles (1975) as the only first team Academic All-Americans in program history. After being named to the Academic All-American Second Team a year ago, he joins Jackson (1988, 1989, 1990), Bob Dudley (1992, 1993) and John Boles (1974, 1975) as the only two-time honorees in BGSU football history.

Along with men's soccer's Pat Flynn and Joe Sullivan, BGSU Athletics now has three First-Team Academic All-Americans in the 2016-17 school year. It is only the second time in program history, joining 1989 (football's Patrick John Jackson, hockey's Alan Leggett and volleyball's Linda Popovich), that the Falcons have earned three such accolades.

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