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 Jason Whaley was named to Division I-AA Athletics Directors Association Academic All-Star team. |
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Jan. 3, 2003
Cullowhee, N.C. - Jason Whaley, a junior offensive lineman at Western Carolina, was one of 43 student-athletes to be named to the Division I-AA Athletics Directors Association Academic All-Star team. The Beulaville native currently carries a 3.898 cumulative grade point average (GPA) in computer information systems.
This past fall, Whaley was additionally tabbed first team Verizon University Division Academic All-District III. That squad includes student-athletes participating on Division I-A and I-AA teams from North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and Florida.
On the field, Whaley was selected second team All-Southern Conference by the league's coaches. He has started all 32 possible games to date for the Catamounts since his freshman season along the offensive line, including 11 this season at right guard. Whaley's play allowed Western Carolina to pace the SoCon and rank 25th nationally in passing with an average of 243.5 yards per game.
Whaley has been Western Carolina's Male Student-Athlete of the Year each of the past two seasons, ending each year as the male student-athlete with the highest GPA. The two-time Southern Conference Academic Honor Roll selection is a member of Western's Honor College and the Beta Gamma Sigma Honor Society.
Whaley was one of seven student-athletes from the Southern Conference to make the 43-man academic all-star team joining Scott Carter (East Tennessee State), Charles Clarke (Georgia Southern), Chase Corn (Wofford), Rodney Johnson (Furman), J.R. McNair (Wofford and Chris Walsh (VMI).
Football players from all NCAA I-AA institutions were eligible for the Division I-AA Athletics Directors Association Academic All-Star team. To be nominated, student-athletes must have a minimum GPA of 3.20 and be a starter of key contributor with legitimate athletics credentials. They must also have reached a second year of athletics and academics at the institution.
