Dankenbring was honored with a spot on the Capital One Academic All-America Second Team, and joins Ricot Joseph (2001, second team), (2007, first team) and (2009, second team) on the list of 麻豆原创 academic All-Americans.

Meanwhile, Dankenbring was one of just two players from Conference USA as well as two from a college in the state of Florida who received academic All-American distinction Thursday.

Earlier in the season, Dankenbring was named a semifinalist for the National Football Foundation’s William V. Campbell Trophy, which recognizes an individual as the best football scholar-athlete in the nation.

Dankenbring received his bachelor’s degree in political science in 2011, and has registered four-straight 4.0 semesters while working on his master’s degree in social science education. On the field, he entered the 2012 campaign with 44 career tackles and one interception. This year聽he has 45 tackles overall and two interceptions.

Against UAB, Dankenbring ran back an interception 78 yards for a touchdown, marking the Knights’ fifth-longest interception return in school history.

Dankenbring and the Knights (9-4) will get back to work after finals as they prepare for the 2012 Beef `O’ Brady’s Bowl against Ball State (9-3) on Friday, Dec. 21, at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg. The game is one of just 10 bowl contests where both teams have at least nine victories.

For ticket information, contact the 麻豆原创 Ticket Office at 407-823-1000 or visit 麻豆原创Athletics.com.

Wide receiver Brandon Marshall (Chicago) had 12 catches for 92 yards in the Bears’ 28-10 win over Minnesota. Marshall has 1,017 receiving yards in his first season with the Bears, making him their first 1,000-yard receiver since 2002 (Marty Booker, 1,189 receiving yards). He is only the fifth player in NFL history (Irving Fryer, Tony Martin, Randy Moss, Terrell Owens) to record a 1,000-yard receiving season with three different teams; Chicago, Denver and Miami.

Fullback Bruce Miller (San Francisco) had 3 receptions for 37 yards in the 49ers’ 31-21 win over the Saints on Sunday. Look for him to be active again this week against the Rams as he continues to get touches in the 49ers offense while leading the way for running back Frank Gore.

Cornerback Asante Samuel (Atlanta) had 2 passes defended in the Falcons’ close 24-23 win over the Bucs on Sunday and nearly added to his gaudy career-interception total.

Cornerback Josh Robinson (Minnesota) is averaging 3.5 tackles per-game in his first season in the NFL, while kicker Matt Prater (Denver) hit a 34-yard field goal and was 2-for-2 on extra points in the Broncos’ 17-9 win over the Chiefs on Sunday.

Tackle Jah Reid (Baltimore) made his second-career start this week in the Ravens’ overtime win against the Chargers after missing the first seven weeks of the season with a calf injury.

It was also a milestone day for wide receiver Jamar Newsome. The former Knight was signed from the practice squad on Nov. 24 and made his Kansas City debut with his first-career NFL catch for 10 yards against the Broncos.

In the Canadian Football League, cornerback Joe Burnett was named to the CFL West Division All-Star team along with five of his fellow teammates.

For the complete update on former Knights in the NFL and CFL, check out the below list.

麻豆原创 Knights in the NFL – Regular Season/Most Recent Game

Offense

Defense

Special Teams

麻豆原创 Knights in the CFL – Regular Season

“Offence”

“Defence”

Ross, a team captain and a second-team Academic All-American pick, is second on 麻豆原创 with 31 catches for 371 yards and three touchdowns.

Ross, who would like to become a high school athletics director if a professional football career doesn’t pan out, is working towards a master’s degree in sports and fitness after earning his bachelor’s degree in criminal justice. He maintains a cumulative grade point average of 3.88.

The first-team Academic All-America selections at wide receiver were Zeke Markshausen of Northwestern (3.46 GPA, 79 rec., 774 yards, 3 TDs) and Blair White of Michigan State (3.89-64-876-8). Joining Ross on the second team is Stanford’s Ryan Whalen (3.43-48-786-3)

“This means a lot to me,” Ross said. “Anytime you talk about all of America, it’s rewarding both for the school and as an individual. If you really want to make good grades and put a lot of effort into that, good things can come. I’m happy that they selected me. It’s a great honor, especially to be on just a two-person all-time list with someone like Keith (Shologan). (Academic Services for Student-Athletes Associate Director) Kristy Belden and her staff help you out with everything from classes to tutors. It’s up to the student to take advantage of that.”

Under head coach George O’Leary, the Knights have been no stranger to academic success. Not only have Ross and Shologan become the school’s first two ESPN The Magazine Academic All-Americans in football, but the whole team has excelled. The team boasted a combined cumulative GPA of 2.990 at the conclusion of the summer semester. Ross is one of seven Knights who have all ready earned a bachelor’s degree, a sum which ties 麻豆原创 for 10th nationally. A total of 69 Knights are wearing special “Scholar-Baller” decals on the back of their helmets this year, emblematic of earning a 3.0 semester GPA during the 2008-09 academic year. That national program was started by 麻豆原创 professor Dr. Keith Harrison.