TOWSON, Md. – Saginaw Valley State University football graduate student Grant Caserta (Holland, Mich./West Ottawa HS) and senior Zach Cecich (Crown Point, Ind.) were named to the 2012 Capital One Academic All-America® Division II Football Team, as selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA).  Caserta received first team honors, while Cecich was named to the second team.

Caserta and Cecich were selected through voting conducted by CoSIDA members. To be nominated, a student-athlete must have at least a 3.30 cumulative grade-point average, have attained sophomore academic and athletic standing, be a varsity starter or key reserve, named first team All-District and be nominated by their sports information director.

Caserta graduated from the College of Business in four years in May 2012 with a degree in General Business and earned a cumulative GPA of 3.81. He is currently enrolled in the graduate studies program. Caserta started all eleven games this year at linebacker for the Cardinals. He helped Saginaw Valley hold opponents to 25.8 points per game and accumulated a team-high 109 tackles and two interceptions this season.

Cecich owns a 3.96 GPA as a Business Management major in the College of Business and will graduate this December after four and a half years. He was also named to the Capital One Academic All-District IV Second Team in 2010. Arguably one of the best all-around athletes on the SVSU team, Cecich started all 11 games this season, including two starts at left tackle.  He caught ten passes for 124 yards and a touchdown in 2012.  

Ten members of the 2012 Capital One Academic All-America® NCAA Division II Football first team have at least a 3.80 G.P.A. while one player has a perfect 4.00 G.P.A.  The 24 members of the first team have an average G.P.A. of 3.75.

The 2012 Capital One Academic All-America® NCAA Division II Football first team features four repeat selections to the first team.  

The Capital One Division II and III Academic All-America® program is being financially supported by the NCAA Division II and III national governance structures, to assist CoSIDA with handling the awards fulfillment aspects for the 2011-12 DII and DIII Academic All-America® teams program.