Oct. 30, 2007
NOTRE DAME, Ind. – Fifth-year senior tight end John Carlson (Litchfield, Minn./Litchfield H.S.) has been selected a 2007 National Scholar-Athlete by the National Football Foundation. A total of 15 recipients were named this year for their outstanding accomplishments in the classroom, on the field and in the community.
As a National Scholar-Athlete, Carlson receives an $18,000 postgraduate scholarship and is one of 15 finalists for the Draddy Trophy, the award presented to the nation’s top scholar-athlete and often referred to as “The Academic Heisman.” Should he win the Draddy Trophy, the scholarship would grow to $25,000.
Carlson is the 15th Notre Dame football player to receive the scholarship but the first since Tim Ruddy in 1993. Only Nebraska (20) and Ohio State (19) have had more players selected since the program began in 1959.
Since arriving on campus at the start of the 2003-04 school year, Carlson has typified what a student-athlete should be. He graduated in four years with a degree in history and amassed a cumulative GPA of 3.633 during his undergraduate years. Carlson was a member of the Academic Honors program at Notre Dame and was named to the Dean’s List in Fall 2004, Spring 2006 and Spring 2007.
He has been involved with the Tackle the Arts program, which is designed to educate and motivate children from low socioeconomic areas of South Bend, Ind., for four years. Carlson also speaks at Ryan’s Place for families who have lost loved ones and is a four-year participant in the Hematology and Oncology Christmas Party for children with cancer.
Carlson’s athletic success has been equally as impressive. He was named a 2006 first-team Academic All-American and was also tabbed a second-team All-American by SI.com. Carlson was one of three finalists for the Mackey Award last year, presented to the nation’s top tight end, after recording the second-most receptions and receiving yards by a tight end in school history.
He currently ranks third all-time in receptions and receiving yards by an Irish tight end and needs six catches and 203 yards to move into second place. This year, Carlson leads the Irish with 26 receptions to go with 188 receiving yards and one touchdown. He is enrolled in the graduate studies program at Notre Dame.
Carlson will be one of the honored guests at the National Football Foundation’s Annual Awards Dinner on Tuesday, Dec. 4 in New York City. Also honored at the awards dinner will be 2007 College Football Hall of Fame inductee Chris Zorich and 2007 Distinguished American Award winner Rocky Bleier.
The 2007 National Scholar-Athlete Class
FOOTBALL BOWL SUBDIVISION
Alex Brink – Washington State University- QB – Sport Management – Coos Bay, Ore.
John Carlson – University of Notre Dame – TE – History – Litchfield, Minn.
Dennis Dixon – University of Oregon – QB – Sociology – San Leandro, Calif.
Dallas Griffin – University of Texas – C – Business Honors / Finance – Katy, Texas
Mike Klinkenborg – University of Iowa – LB – Elementary Education – Rock Rapids, Iowa
J Leman – University of Illinois – LB – Speech Communication – Champaign, Ill.
Brandon Renkart – Rutgers University – LB – Civil Engineering – South Bound Brook, N.J.
Paul Smith – University of Tulsa – QB – Communications – Owasso, Okla.
Jacob Tamme – University of Kentucky – TE – Integrated Strategic Comm. – Danville, Ky.
FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP SUBDIVISION
Nick Clark – Texas State University – DE – Mathematics – Fort Worth, Texas
Brandon Cramer – University of Dayton – S – Pre-Medicine – Waterville, Ohio
DIVISION II
Michael Eubanks- Delta State Univ. (Miss.) – LB – Pre-Medicine – Cleveland, Miss.
Danny Woodhead – Chadron State Univ. (Neb.) – TB – Math / Health & Phys. Ed. – North Platte, Neb.
DIVISION III
Eric Safran- Mount Union College (Ohio) – C – Business Admin. – Sagamore Hills, Ohio
Jake Weller – Illinois College – DB – Biology / Chemistry – Jacksonville, Ill.
— ND —