Middle Tennesee State University Athletics

Rooker named to 2017 Senior Class Award
10/5/2017 1:30:00 PM | Football
Among 30 FBS candidates
OVERLAND PARK, Kan. (October 5, 2017) – Thirty NCAA® Football Bowl Subdivision student-athletes who excel both on and off the field were selected today as candidates for the 2017 Senior CLASS Award® in collegiate football and Middle Tennessee's Canon Rooker was among the honored. To be eligible for the award, a student-athlete must be classified as an NCAA Division I FBS senior and have notable achievements in four areas of excellence: community, classroom, character and competition. The complete list of candidates follows this release.
Rooker, a senior field goal kicker, was a preseason all-conference pick, a Lou Groza Award Watch List member and recently was named a semifinalist for the William V. Campbell Trophy. Rooker, who owns a 3.741 GPA in biochemistry, has made four of five field goals this season and owns 20 for his career to rank 10th on the all-time list at MT.
An acronym for Celebrating Loyalty and Achievement for Staying in School®, the Senior CLASS Award focuses on the total student-athlete and encourages students to use their platform in athletics to make a positive impact as leaders in their communities.
Of the 30 candidates, 20 have grade-point averages of 3.0 or higher with eleven of those holding above a 3.5. Six are returning All-Americans, and 29 were all-conference selections in 2016. Outside of academics and athletics, all candidates have been consistently involved in community service on their campus or in their communities.
To determine the final Senior CLASS Award winner, the 30 candidates will be narrowed to 10 finalists midway through the regular season, and those names will be placed on the official ballot. Ballots will be distributed through a nationwide voting system to media, coaches and fans, who will select one candidate who best exemplifies excellence in the four Cs of community, classroom, character and competition. Along with the winner, the 10 finalists will be awarded Senior CLASS Award first- or second-team honors.
The Senior CLASS Award winner will be announced during the football bowl season in early January. For more information on the candidates, visit seniorCLASSaward.com.
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Football Candidates
Rooker, a senior field goal kicker, was a preseason all-conference pick, a Lou Groza Award Watch List member and recently was named a semifinalist for the William V. Campbell Trophy. Rooker, who owns a 3.741 GPA in biochemistry, has made four of five field goals this season and owns 20 for his career to rank 10th on the all-time list at MT.
An acronym for Celebrating Loyalty and Achievement for Staying in School®, the Senior CLASS Award focuses on the total student-athlete and encourages students to use their platform in athletics to make a positive impact as leaders in their communities.
Of the 30 candidates, 20 have grade-point averages of 3.0 or higher with eleven of those holding above a 3.5. Six are returning All-Americans, and 29 were all-conference selections in 2016. Outside of academics and athletics, all candidates have been consistently involved in community service on their campus or in their communities.
To determine the final Senior CLASS Award winner, the 30 candidates will be narrowed to 10 finalists midway through the regular season, and those names will be placed on the official ballot. Ballots will be distributed through a nationwide voting system to media, coaches and fans, who will select one candidate who best exemplifies excellence in the four Cs of community, classroom, character and competition. Along with the winner, the 10 finalists will be awarded Senior CLASS Award first- or second-team honors.
The Senior CLASS Award winner will be announced during the football bowl season in early January. For more information on the candidates, visit seniorCLASSaward.com.
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Football Candidates
Matt Anderson, California | Allen Lazard, Iowa State |
J.T. Barrett, Ohio State | Joe Ostman, Central Michigan |
Drew Brown, Nebraska | Billy Price, Ohio State |
Daniel Carlson, Auburn | Scott Quessenberry, UCLA |
Austin Corbett, Nevada | Frank Ragnow, Arkansas |
Marcus Davenport, UTSA | Jeremy Reaves, South Alabama |
Joseph Davidson, Bowling Green State | Canon Rooker, Middle Tennessee |
Emmanuel Ellerbee, Rice | JK Scott, Alabama |
Rashard Fant, Indiana | Blaise Taylor, Arkansas State |
Zaire Franklin, Syracuse | Cody Thompson, Toledo |
Shaquem Griffin, UCF | Johnny Townsend, Florida |
Mason Hampton, Boise State | Drue Tranquill, Notre Dame |
Josey Jewell, Iowa | Mike White, Western Kentucky |
Micah Kiser, Virginia | Logan Woodside, Toledo |
Justin Lawler, SMU | Kenny Young, UCLA |
Players Mentioned
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