Nov. 6, 2014

SPRINGFIELD - Missouri State senior safety Caleb Schaffitzel (Fair Grove, Mo.) has been named as a first-team selection to the Capital One CoSIDA Academic All-District VI team, it was announced Thursday.

Schaffitzel has a 3.93 cumulative GPA after completing his undergraduate degree in Wildlife and Conservation Management last spring. He was a Capital One CoSIDA First-Team Academic All-American in 2013 and second-team Academic All-American in 2012. He recently was named as a member of the 2014 National Scholar-Athlete Class and is one of 17 national finalists for the William V. Campbell Trophy, presented to college football's premier scholar-athlete.

He was as a consensus Division I FCS All-American on the field as the top-rated safety in the nation last season. He also earned CFPA National FCS Defensive Back of the Year in 2012, is a two-time Missouri Valley Football Conference first-team selection and a two-time Academic All-MVFC honoree.

In his 42 career games, Schaffitzel has 355 tackles for the Bears with 10 interceptions for 259 yards. He is the active national leader among all FCS players in assisted tackles (201), is fifth among all players in interceptions. He has 65 tackles in nine appearances this season.

District VI consists of all Division I programs in the states of Arkansas, Iowa, Louisiana, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wisconsin. Only a select number of players were chosen at each position, including four defensive backs.

Other defensive backs selected to the All-District VI Team were: Sam Scofield (Tulane), Jordan Lomax (Iowa) and Nick Mears (South Dakota State).

To be eligible for Academic All-America consideration, student-athletes must be a starter or important reserve with legitimate athletic credentials and at least a 3.30 cumulative grade point average (on a 4.0 scale) in both undergrad and graduate work. Student-athletes must have reached sophomore athletic and academic standing at their current institution and must have completed at least one full academic year at that institution. Teams are selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America.

2014 Capital One Academic All-District VI First Team

P - Ethan Sawyer, South Dakota State

QB - Carson Wentz, North Dakota State

WR - Jason Schneider, South Dakota State

WR - Zach Vraa, North Dakota State

TE - Maxx Williams, Minnesota

RB - Zach Zenner, South Dakota State

RB - Mark Weisman, Iowa

OL - Joe Graves, Southeastern Louisiana

OL - Nick Purcell, South Dakota State

OL - Jesse Hinz, North Dakota State

OL - Dan Voltz, Wisconsin

OL - Cameron Tom, Southern Miss.

K - Corey Acosta, Southern Miss.

DB - Caleb Schaffitzel, Missouri State

DB - Sam Scofield, Tulane

DB - Nick Mears, South Dakota State

DB - Jordan Lomax, Iowa

LB - Esley Thorton, North Dakota State

LB - Deterrian Shackelford, Mississippi

LB - Taylor Coleman, Drake

DL - Brett Park, Drake

DL - Jacob Newman, Southeastern Louisiana

DL - Kyle Emanuel, North Dakota State

DL - Cole Langer, South Dakota State

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