Missouri State offensive lineman
David Arkin (Sr., Wichita, Kan.) has been named to the CoSIDA/ESPN Academic All-America football team, the College Sports Information Directors of America announced Tuesday (Nov. 23). Arkin is on the University Division Second Team, which includes all Division I players in both the Bowl and Championship Subdivisions.
Arkin, who was also an Academic All-District VII selection in 2009 and 2010, has a 3.72 grade point average in Construction Management with minors in Finance and Real Estate. He started all 11 games for the Bears this season and was a preseason All-Missouri Valley Football Conference pick for the second straight year after landing a spot on the All-MVFC team the past three seasons. He has started all 44 games of his MSU career and graded out at 87 percent for the season with 82 knock-down blocks.
In 2009, Arkin posted an 87-percent grade and 71 knockdowns, while recording 43 knockdowns in 2008 with an 84-percent grade.
He was recently named to the FCS Senior Bowl watch list, is a preseason FCS All-American and is ranked No. 10 among all 2011 NFL Draft eligible offensive guard prospects by CBSSports.com. Arkin is a six-time MVFC Offensive Lineman of the Week, a 20-time MSU Offensive Lineman of the Week and was the recipient of the Fall 2008 Missouri Valley Conference State Farm Good Neighbor Award.
Selections to the ESPN Academic All-District Team are based on votes by Division I members of the College Sports Information Directors of America from South Dakota, North Dakota, Iowa, Nebraska, Missouri, Kansas, Colorado, Wyoming and Montana. The Academic All-America ballot is voted on by all Division I CoSIDA members nationally. Student-athletes must be at least a sophomore in athletic standing, maintain a minimum grade-point average of 3.3 and be a starter or key reserve.
Arkin and the Bears capped a 5-6 season this fall in which Missouri State was 4-4 in the Missouri Valley Football Conference. MSU tied for third in the MVFC which received three bids to the Division I Football Playoffs. The Bears were also undefeated at home for the first time since 1992 and beat three ranked teams this season.
