Ball State University Athletics
Cosby, Ekpe Earn CoSIDA Academic All-District Honors
June 10, 2021 | Football
MUNCIE, Ind. - - For their hard work and dedication both on the field and in the classroom, Ball State football's Bryce Cosby and Anthony Ekpe have earned 2020-21 Academic All-District honors as announced today (June 10) by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA).
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Ball State was one of only four Mid-American Conference programs to have multiple representatives on the all-district teams.
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Cosby and Ekpe both earned CoSIDA Academic All-District honors for the first time in their careers after helping guide BSU to its first MAC championship since 1996 and to the first bowl victory in program history at the Arizona Bowl.
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Cosby, a safety for the Cardinals, earned First Team All-MAC accolades in 2020 and is a three-time Academic All-MAC selection. He had 62 tackles in Ball State's eight games this past season, helping Ball State finish the year with a 7-1 record and a No. 23 national ranking. His 282 career tackles are second-most among active MAC players (19th nationally), while his eight career interceptions are tied for 11th nationally.
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Ekpe, an outside linebacker for the Cardinals, earned First Team All-MAC accolades this past season and was named Academic All-MAC and a MAC Distinguished Scholar Athlete. He tied for second in the league with five sacks in 2020, and also had two forced fumbles in the eight-game season. In addition, Ekpe led Ball State with 7.0 tackles for loss. A graduate transfer who finished his first season at BSU in 2020, Ekpe was previously an honorable mention All-Conference USA selection and a four-time C-USA Honor Roll honoree at Rice.
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The 2020-21 Academic All-District® Football Team, selected by CoSIDA, recognizes the nation's top student-athletes for their combined performances on the field and in the classroom. The CoSIDA Academic All-America® program separately recognizes football honorees in four divisions — NCAA Division I, NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III and NAIA.
Ball State resides in District 5 which consists of all FBS and FCS Division I programs in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, and Ohio. Nominees must be a starter or significant contributor to the team while carrying at least a 3.3 grade point average.
First-team Academic All-District® honorees advance to the CoSIDA Academic All-America® ballot. First-, second- and third-team Academic All-America® honorees will be announced in early July.
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Ball State was one of only four Mid-American Conference programs to have multiple representatives on the all-district teams.
Â
Cosby and Ekpe both earned CoSIDA Academic All-District honors for the first time in their careers after helping guide BSU to its first MAC championship since 1996 and to the first bowl victory in program history at the Arizona Bowl.
Â
Cosby, a safety for the Cardinals, earned First Team All-MAC accolades in 2020 and is a three-time Academic All-MAC selection. He had 62 tackles in Ball State's eight games this past season, helping Ball State finish the year with a 7-1 record and a No. 23 national ranking. His 282 career tackles are second-most among active MAC players (19th nationally), while his eight career interceptions are tied for 11th nationally.
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Ekpe, an outside linebacker for the Cardinals, earned First Team All-MAC accolades this past season and was named Academic All-MAC and a MAC Distinguished Scholar Athlete. He tied for second in the league with five sacks in 2020, and also had two forced fumbles in the eight-game season. In addition, Ekpe led Ball State with 7.0 tackles for loss. A graduate transfer who finished his first season at BSU in 2020, Ekpe was previously an honorable mention All-Conference USA selection and a four-time C-USA Honor Roll honoree at Rice.
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The 2020-21 Academic All-District® Football Team, selected by CoSIDA, recognizes the nation's top student-athletes for their combined performances on the field and in the classroom. The CoSIDA Academic All-America® program separately recognizes football honorees in four divisions — NCAA Division I, NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III and NAIA.
Ball State resides in District 5 which consists of all FBS and FCS Division I programs in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, and Ohio. Nominees must be a starter or significant contributor to the team while carrying at least a 3.3 grade point average.
First-team Academic All-District® honorees advance to the CoSIDA Academic All-America® ballot. First-, second- and third-team Academic All-America® honorees will be announced in early July.
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Players Mentioned
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