CHARLESTON, S.C. – The Citadel's Joe Crochet has been named a member of the FCS Athletics Directors Association Academic All-Star Team and a finalist for the organization's postgraduate scholarship, it was announced Friday.

Crochet is one of 44 members of the team and one of nine finalists for the scholarship. The senior from Stone Mountain, Georgia, is one of two finalists from the Southern Conference and one of four SoCon representatives on the Academic All-Star Team.

Crochet is one of the most-recognized Bulldogs for his work in the classroom. He is a two-time CoSIDA Academic All-American, the first Bulldog to earn Academic All-America honors in consecutive years since 1976-78, and last season became The Citadel's first first-team Academic All-American since 1989. Crochet earned his bachelor's degree in three years and graduated with his MBA in December. He earned a 3.88 grade-point average in graduate school after an undergraduate GPA of 3.82 and has been named to the Southern Conference Fall All-Academic Team and Academic Honor Roll three times while also earning the Commissioner's Medal four times.

Crochet was selected as a first-team All-Southern Conference performer in 2016 after recording 45 tackles, including 12.5 for loss with 4.5 sacks, two forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and two quarterback hurries. His fumble recovery total tied for second in the SoCon and 24th in FCS, his forced fumbles total tied for sixth in the conference and his tackles for loss total tied for ninth in the SoCon. His 11.0 tackles for loss in conference play ranked second in the SoCon.

To be considered for the Academic All-Star Team, nominees were required to have a minimum GPA of 3.20 and have been a starter or key player with legitimate athletics credentials. They also must have reached their second year of athletics and academic standing at the institution and participated in at least 50 percent of the games played.

Out of the nine finalists, two will receive postgraduate scholarships for $5,000 each. The scholarship recipients will be recognized during the FCS ADA's annual membership meeting held in conjunction with the 2017 National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics Convention, being held at the World Center Marriott Resort in Orlando, Florida, June 12-15.

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