NOTRE
DAME, Ind. – After helping the Majors to
the nation's 9th-ranked scoring defense and 18th-ranked total
defense and posting a solid 3.20 GPA in the
classroom, senior defensive lineman
Casey
Younger of Millsaps has been chosen by ESPN
The Magazine as an Academic
All-District VI First Team selection.
A
senior majoring in political science, Younger has played
and started in all nine games this season, leading the team
in tackles (44) and tackles-for-loss (10.0) while tallying
6.0 sacks for minus 28 yards, a QB hurry and a fumble recovery.
He currently ranks t-fifth in the league in sacks and seventh
in tackles-for-loss.
"It's a real honor," Younger said. "I've worked hard these
past four years and
now it pays off."
Younger had a career-game against Rhodes in a 42-0 win at
home earlier this season, picking up nine tackles, 4.0 tackles-for-loss
and three quarterback sacks.
"The biggest difference this year is that we all know the system," Younger
said. "It was so complex that it took two years to master ... we got it
down now."
A First Team All-SCAC selection in 2006, Younger ranks amongst
the Top 15 all-time in Millsaps history with 179 career tackles
(28.0
tackles-for-loss), 11.0 sacks, two forced fumbles and a fumble
recovery.
Younger along with 11 other seniors will be playing in their
final game for Millsaps on Saturday, as they host Birmingham-Southern
at 1 p.m. The Majors will be searching for their first 8-win
season since 1996.
"It's been a tremendous experience," Younger said. "We
started at the bottom of the barrel and rose to the top the
past two seasons ... I feel like a big family now."
To be nominated, a student-athlete must be a starter or important
reserve with at least a 3.20 cumulative grade point average
(on a 4.0 scale) for his/her career. The
award is then voted upon by more than 2,000 members of the
College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA).
