MSU football may not be able to score on the field, but they can in the classroom

Well this was unexpected.

The 2016 MSU football program has put forward  a record 22 athletes who have earned All-Big Ten academic honors. The most notable of these athletes is Redshirt freshman offensive lineman Cole Chewins, who is majoring in business. Chewins was one of just 16 Big Ten athletes to earn a perfect 4.0 Cumulative GPA in the Fall.

In alphabetical order, Spartans Brian Allen, Edward Barksdale, Byron Bullough, Kevin Cronin, Frank Epitropoulos, Chris Frey, Michael Geiger, Chase Gianacakos, Jake Hartbarger, Evan Jones, Zac Leimbach, Matt Macksood, Benny McGowan, Grayson Miller, Matt Morrissey, Tyler O’Connor, Josiah Price, Matt Sokol, Brandon Sowards, Tyriq Thompson and Kharl Willis also earned All-Big Ten academic honors.

What’s more, Seniors Tyler O’Connor, Josiah Price and Matt Macksood joined just 22 other Spartan football players in earning this honor all four years.

While the MSU football team had an up-and-down season this year, there is definitely something to be said about our commitment to excellence off the field. In a time when many people are calling into question the validity of granting so many athletic scholarships, it is important that our players put as much effort into their studies as they do their training.