Nov. 30, 2006

University of Dayton junior safety Brandon Cramer (Toledo, OH) has been named to the First Team ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America Team, it was announced today. Cramer, a 2004 graduate of Anthony Wayne High School, was named to the second team last year as a sophomore.

After missing the season opener with a knee injury, Cramer started the remaining nine games for the Flyers this season. He was third on the team in tackles for the second straight season (52). He led UD interceptions (3, tied) and fumbles recovered (1, tied) and was second on the team in passes broken up (3). He returned an interception 84 yards for what proved to be the game-winning points against Austin Peay.

Cramer is the only Pioneer Football League student-athlete to be named First Team ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America this year. He has a 4.0 GPA in Bio-Chemistry and Pre-Med.

To be nominated, student-athletes must be a starter or important reserve, and carry a cumulative grade point average of 3.20 or higher. Team members are selected by a vote of members of the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) within the district.

The Dayton football program has produced 13 ESPN The Magazine Academic All-Americans since the 2000 season. That's most at any level of college football.

In the history of the Academic All-America program, UD has had 45 football Academic All-Americans. Among schools currently playing Division I football, only Nebraska (81) and Notre Dame (46) have had more. UD has had at least one football player named Academic All-American in 15 of the last 16 years.