NACDA Release Cleveland (March 28, 2014) - Fordham University senior defensive lineman
Brett Biestek was named one of two NCAA FCS players chosen as a recipient of the 13
th Division I Football Championship Subdivision Athletics Directors Association (FCS ADA) Scholar-Athletes of the Year.
Each will receive a $5,000 postgraduate scholarship. The duo was selected from a group of seven finalists. They will receive their awards during the Association's annual membership meeting being held in conjunction with the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) Convention, being held at the World Center Marriott Resort in Orlando, Florida, June 9-12.
"Annually, the FCS ADA is tasked with selecting a pair of individuals from the Academic All-Star team to honor with postgraduate scholarships," stated FCS ADA President Brian Hutchinson, director of athletics, Morehead State University. "This year we recognize and congratulate the efforts of both Brett and Austin. We wish these two young men well as they look to continue their postgraduate work."
This is the fourth academic award for Biestek, who was also named First Team Capital One Academic All-America®, Fordham's first football Academic All-American
® since Barry Cantrell in 1997, as well as being named Academic All-Patriot League and to the FCS ADA Academic All-Star Team.
Biestek, a senior Finance major with a 3.78 GPA, started all 14 games on the Fordham defensive line last fall, recording 58 total tackles, 40 solo, including 14.5 tackles for a loss of 74 yards and five sacks for 36 yards. He also had five quarterback hurries, four pass breakups, three fumble recoveries, a forced fumble and a blocked kick. Biestek tied for second in the Patriot League in tackles for loss per game (1.04) and tied for seventh in sacks per game (0.36) and was named first team All-Patriot League.
Over his career, Biestek has 86 total tackles, 58 solo, including 20 tackles for loss and eight sacks. He also has eleven pass breakups.
A Finance major with a 3.78 GPA, Biestek graduated in three-and-a-half years and is currently enrolled in the Fordham MBA program. He is believed to be just the second Fordham football player to graduate early and enroll directly into the MBA program.
