Samford University's student-athletes continue to demonstrate excellence in the classroom, as well as in competition, with 32 named to the Southern Conference's Fall 2017 Academic All-Conference team released by the league Jan. 16.
Among Samford's fall sports, soccer has the most representatives on the team with 12. The volleyball team placed seven members on the team, while football had six representatives on the squad.
"Placing 32 Samford student-athletes on the All-Academic SoCon team is a testament to the support our student athletes enjoy from our faculty, staff, coaches and administration," said Harold Goss, associate athletics director for academics and compliance. "It is also a reflection of the importance Samford student-athletes place on their academic experience. Managing the demands of competing in Division 1 intercollegiate athletics along with the academic rigor of Samford is no small task."
Samford's 32 student-athletes on the team posted an average grade-point-average of 3.59.
To be eligible for the team, student-athletes must carry at least a 3.3 cumulative GPA entering the fall season and were required to compete in at least one-half of their teams' competitions during the recently concluded fall campaigns. In addition, the student-athletes must have successfully completed at least 24 credit hours in the previous two semesters.
Samford's athletics teams are ranked No. 1 in Alabama and among the Southern Conference leaders for Graduation Success Rate (GSR) by the NCAA with an average score of 97 percent. Ten of Samford's teams received perfect scores, placing Samford No. 1 in Alabama and in the top 15 in the nation.
Samford University has 17 varsity sports—eight men's and nine women's—that participate at the NCAA Division I level in the Southern Conference. Since joining the SoCon in 2008, Samford has won 33 league titles.