Grant Hunter Named Football Academic All-America

Butler defensive end Grant Hunter, an outstanding student and one of the top defensive linemen in the Pioneer Football League has been named second team on the 2009 ESPN The Magazine University Division Academic All-America Football Team, chosen by CoSIDA (College Sports Information Directors of America).  He was among 49 players selected first or second team on the national honor squad.

Hunter led the Bulldogs and ranked second in the PFL in quarterback sacks (10), despite missing three games with illness.  Prior to being sidelined, he was ranked among the top three players in the NCAA Division I FCS in quarterback sacks.  The Butler junior was named second team All-PFL this season, after being a first team All-League pick a year ago.  He has 24 career quarterback sacks in two seasons as a Butler starter.

Hunter also has been impressive in the classroom, boasting a 3.62 grade point average as a secondary education major.  He was named to the PFL Academic Honor Roll in 2008, and he was picked to the CoSIDA Academic All-District V Team this fall.  He is Butler’s first football Academic All-American since 1999 and fourth all-time, following Steve Kollias (1984), Nick Batalis (1998) and Mike Goletz (1998 and 1999).

Butler has one football game remaining this fall.  The Bulldogs, co-champions of the PFL, will host Northeast Conference champ Central Connecticut State in the fourth annual Gridiron Classic on Saturday, Dec. 5, at 12 noon.