Ball State University Athletics
Six Football Student-Athletes Earn Academic Honors
January 06, 2011 | Football
Six members of the Ball State football team were recognized by the Mid-American Conference and received Academic All-MAC honors.
Scott Kovanda, Ian McGarvey and Briggs Orsbon were each named to the first team, while Tony Martin, Aaron Mershman and Andrew Puthoff received honorable mention.
The Academic All-MAC team honors football student-athletes who have excelled in academics and athletics. To qualify, a student-athlete must have at least a 3.0 cumulative grade-point average on the 4.0 scale and have participated in at least 50 percent of the team's games. First year students and junior college transfers in their first year of residence are not eligible for the award. The Academic All-MAC team is selected by the league school's faculty athletic representatives.
Kovanda, a punter, owns a 3.95 GPA as a sophomore business major. He punted 64 times for 2,557 yards in 2010. He tied his career long with a 63-yard punt vs. Eastern Michigan, a feat he also accomplished vs. North Texas in 2009. Kovanda punted a career high nine times for a career best 343 yards at Iowa last fall.
McGarvey, a senior on the 2010 team, owns a 3.43 GPA as a psychology major. He was also named to the Academic All-MAC Team in 2008 and 2009. McGarvey became Ball State's all-time career leading scorer with 287 points, passing the mark of 279 set by Kenny Stucker from 1988-91. He made 55 career field goals, which ranks third in Ball State history, and a school record 122 extra points. McGarvey also set the school standard for career extra point attempts with 126.
Orsbon, a junior wide receiver for the Cardinals in 2010, owns a perfect 4.0 GPA and is making his second straight appearance on the Academic All-MAC Team. He was second on the team with 28 catches and tallied 295 receiving yards with one touchdown reception last fall. In Ball State's season opener vs. Southeast Missouri State, Orsbon blocked the first punt of his career with 3:18 remaining in the third quarter.
Martin owns a 3.607 GPA as a sophomore physical education major. The linebacker ranked third on the team with 76 tackles plus added 3.5 tackles for loss, one fumble recovery, two pass breakups and two quarterback hurries. The fumble recovery was the second of his career. Martin led Ball State with a career high 14 tackles vs. Eastern Michigan plus led the Cardinals with 9.5 tackles vs. Liberty.
Mershman, a sophomore tight end with a 3.606 GPA as a psychology major, caught the first touchdown pass of his career vs. Liberty last fall. He managed a career high three catches vs. Eastern Michigan last season and a career best 40 receiving yards vs. Liberty. Mershman finished the season with 13 receptions for 125 yards after moving from quarterback during fall camp prior to the 2010 season.
Puthoff, a junior health science major with a 3.432 GPA, played defensive end and tight end for the Cardinals in 2010. He started all 12 games at defensive end and made his first career interception at Central Michigan. Puthoff tallied his first career fumble recovery at Kent State and his first reception of the season at Buffalo. He totalled 34 tackles, three tackles for loss and two pass breakups in 2010.
The Cardinals are slated to open the 2011 season under first-year head coach Pete Lembo vs. Indiana Sept. 3.
