Nov. 26, 2008

2008 ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America Football Teams (PDF Format)

EVANSTON, Ill. -- Northwestern senior long snapper Phil Brunner (South Milwaukee, Wis./South Milwaukee) has been named an ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America first team selection, as voted on by the College Sports Information Directors of America.

Brunner already has earned an undergraduate degree in chemical engineering. He currently is working toward a master's degree in materials science and engineering, carrying a 3.79 GPA.

Brunner has been perfect on every single one of his snaps this season, helping kicker Amado Villarreal break the Northwestern scoring record for a kicker with 85 points. Villarreal was an All-Big Ten honorable mention selection this year. Brunner also was perfect on his punt snaps as well as recording a tackle and a forced fumble on the season.

Brunner is Northwestern's first Academic All-American since both Jeff Backes and Luis Castillo were first-team honorees in 2004. Brunner's award is the 29th such accolade in program history.

To be eligible for the award, a player must be in at least his second year of athletic eligibility, be a first-team or key performer and carry a cumulative 3.30 grade point average. This GPA standard is higher than the 3.2 required in previous years.