Photo Credit: Michigan Tech

TOWSON, Md. — Michigan Tech football student-athlete Keith White has been named to the ESPN the Magazine Academic All-America College Division First Team it was announced today by the College Sports Information Directors of America. The senior is the Huskies’ first Academic All-American in football since Joe Berger was a first team pick in 2004.

White, with a 3.97 grade point average in mechanical engineering, was one of only two wide receivers selected to the College Division First Team. The College Division includes all football players nationwide in NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III and NAIA.

The Rhinelander, Wis., native tallied 63 catches for 944 yards and eight touchdowns in 2008 to help Michigan Tech to an 8-3 record and third place finish in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. He finished as the school record holder for career receiving yards with 2,377. He also wrapped up his career in second on Tech’s all-time charts for receptions with 146 and receiving touchdowns with 22.

To be eligible, a student-athlete must be a varsity starter or key reserve, maintain a cumulative grade point average of 3.30 on a scale of 4.00, have reached sophomore athletic and academic standings at his/her current institution and be nominated by his/her sports information director.

Since the program’s inception in 1952, CoSIDA has bestowed Academic All-America honors on more than 14,000 student-athletes in Divisions I, II, III and NAIA, covering all NCAA championship sports.

Michigan Tech has had 15 different football players earn Academic All-America honors of some sort. White joins only seven previous Academic All-America First Teamers — Joe Berger (2004), Kurt Coduti (1992), Jim VanWagner (1976), Bruce Trusock (1973), Larry Ras (1971), Don Krejcarek (1963) and Bill Wiljanen (1960).