Nov. 14, 2013

OXFORD, Miss. - Several times during the year, the Ole Miss Athletics Department takes the opportunity to recognize those student-athletes who achieve excellence off the fields and courts.

At halftime of the football game against Arkansas last Saturday, 169 student-athletes were recognized for their outstanding work in the classroom last spring. Forty-six percent of the student-athlete population made at least a 3.0 grade point average last spring, while 26 recorded a perfect 4.0, including six from and men's and women's track and field combined and four each from NCAA team participants women's golf and women's tennis.

"For the first time, we were able to show the 60,000 plus football fans that more than 45 percent of our student-athlete population achieved excellence in the classroom," said senior associate athletics director Derek Cowherd. "We wanted to honor our 169 student-athletes who earned a 3.00 GPA last semester in an uncommon way. Competing at the highest levels of collegiate sports while earning a 3.00 GPA have direct correlations to championships. We are rebuilding a great program here; the future is bright for Ole Miss."

Several members of the football team, who have helped the Rebels become bowl eligible for the second year in a row, were among the student-athletes to achieve at least a 3.00, including kicker Andrew Ritter, punter Tyler Campbell, running back Jaylen Walton, right tackle Pierce Burton, center Evan Swindall and linebacker D.T. Shackelford.

Keep up with the academic accomplishments of Ole Miss student-athletes through Twitter, @RebelAcademics.