Posted: Dec 20, 2011
Seniors Jacob Heppner (Mansfield, Mo.), Ryan Adams (Slater, Mo.), Brad Carter (El Cajon, Calif.), Kyle Gibson (Columbia, Mo.), Caleb Haynes (Higginsville, Mo.), Cody Wallingford (Gower, Mo.), and Tyler Belt (Macon, Mo.); and junior Cody Davis (Sullivan, Mo.) were selected as Daktronics Scholar-Athletes.
These players were recognized as some of the nation's top student-athletes for their performances on the field and in the classroom. To qualify for this honor, athletes must maintain a grade-point average (GPA) of 3.50 and be of at least a junior academic status.
Heppner, a defensive back, was selected as a Daktronics Scholar-Athlete for the second year in a row. Heppner is a mathematics major with an interdisciplinary minor, and currently holds a 4.0 GPA. He started eight games this season and had a total of 13 tackles. He was also named to the 2011 Capital One Academic All-America first team.
Adams, a defensive lineman, was also selected as a Daktronics Scholar-Athlete for the second year in a row. Adams is an English major with a 3.57 GPA. He had a total of seven tackles on the season, bringing his career total to 20. Adams was honored with a spot on the Capital One All-America second team earlier this month.���������
Carter, a receiver, was named a Daktronics Scholar-Athlete for the first year. Carter is majoring in physical education and currently holds a 3.83 GPA. He was named the Heart of America Athletic Conference (HAAC) Special Teams Player-of-the-Week Oct. 24. As a punt returner for CMU in 2011, Carter had 13 returns for 183 yards and one touchdown. He had 6 receptions for 89 yards and one touchdown. Carter ranks ninth in the division for punt return yards per attempt. Carter was also named to the 2011 Capital One All-America second team in December.
Gibson, an offensive lineman, was selected as a Daktronics-NAIA Scholar-Athlete for the second straight year. Gibson is majoring in athletic training and minoring in biology, while holding a 3.85 GPA. He was selected as a Capital One All-American to the second team in December.
Haynes, a running back, earned a spot as a Daktronics Scholar-Athlete. Haynes is a physical education major with science and mathematics minors, and currently holds a 3.71 GPA. He rushed for a total of 443 yards and finished with eight touchdowns on the season. Haynes was selected to the Capital One All-America first team based on his performance in the 2011 season.
Wallingford, a linebacker, was named a Daktronics Scholar for the second straight year. He is a mathemetics major with a physics minor. Wallingford had 10 tackles on the season.
Belt, a linebacker, was selected for Daktronic Scholar honors. He is an athletic training/pre-physical therapy major with a 3.89 GPA. For the season, he had 41 tackles and 1.5 sacks. Belt also had one interception on the season. He was named to the Academic All-America first team in December.
Davis, an offensive lineman, was honored as a Daktronic Scholar-Athlete. He is majoring in history and minoring in physical science, while holding a 3.85 GPA. He was selected to the 2011 Capital One Academic All-America second team and is a member of the Alpha Lambda Delta Honor Society.
