Senior placekicker Tyler Padgett (Jefferson City, Mo.) was one of two NAIA football players recognized on the ESPN Academic All-America College Division Football Team, announced Tuesday by College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA).
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Padgett, who holds a 4.0 grade-point average while majoring in biology and minoring in chemistry, was named to the ESPN Academic All-America Football second team after being an ESPN Academic All-District First Team selection. He was one of seven Academic All-America College Division honorees with perfect 4.0 GPAs. Padgett finished his career as CMU's all-time leader for PATs made in a career with 83. He was a two-time All-HAAC Honorable Mention honoree. Prior to this season, Padgett was among the kickers named to the Fred Mitchell Award Watch List. Last year, Padgett was a recipient of the James M. Luetjen Scholar-Athlete Award at CMU, given to the junior student-athlete with the highest GPA.

Padgett joined Eastern Oregon University's Seath Kimball as the only players from the NAIA represented on the ESPN Academic All-America Football Team. Both Padgett and Kimball were named to the College Division second team, which included athletes from NCAA Divisions II and III, NAIA, and two-year colleges and universities.

To be eligible for nomination to the ESPN Academic All-America program, a student-athlete must be a starter or important reserve, and maintain at least a 3.30 GPA on a 4.0 scale. He or she must also have reached at least sophomore athletic and academic standing. Athletes nominated for the 2010 ESPN Academic All-America Football program, were selected to Academic All-District First, Second, and Third Teams. Athletes who received Academic All-District First Team honors were then put on a ballot for ESPN Academic All-America.

To see the complete list of the 2010 ESPN Academic All-America Football Teams, visit www.cosida.com.