South Dakota State running back Cory Koenig has been selected as one of two seniors to receive Scholar-Athlete of the Year recognition from the Division I Football Championship Subdivision Athletics Directors Association.

Koenig will receive a $5,000 postgraduate scholarship, which will be presented on June 9 at the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) Convention in Dallas, Texas.

A native of Underwood, Iowa, Koenig will graduate next month with a degree in biology, then plans to attend medical school. During his collegiate career, Koenig was named to the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America First Team in both 2006 and 2007, and was a three-time member of the Great West Football Conference All-Academic Team.

On the field, he was honored as a first team All-Great West Football Conference player in 2007 and was a second-team pick in 2005. In 2007, Koenig served as captain and helped lead the Jackrabbits offense with 16 touchdowns (15 rushing), while posting 1,266 rushing yards in 213 carries for an average of 5.9 yards per carry. He had six 100-yard games in 2007, including five straight to end the season. His 2,990 career rushing yards rank fifth all-time at SDSU.

Also receiving the award was University of Dayton defensive back Brandon Cramer.

A total of 51 FCS players were selected to the Academic All-Star Team in December, which was later pared to eight finalists. Nominees were required to have a minimum grade point average of 3.20 (on a 4.00 scale) in undergraduate study and have been a starter or key player with legitimate athletics credentials. They must have reached their second year of athletics and academic standing at the nominated institution and have completed a minimum of one full academic year at the nominated institution. They must also have participated in 50 percent of the games played at their designated position.

FCS ADA Website