AUSTIN, Texas – A quartet of Carson-Newman football players have been named CoSIDA (College Sports Information Directors of America) Academic All-District, the organization announced Thursday at noon.
Running back Jared Dillingham (Central, S.C.), tight end Kooper Davis (Selmer, Tenn.), offensive lineman Dan Gallman (Naples, Fla.) and defensive end Phalen Booker (Waveland, Miss.) all picked up the plaudits.
For Gallman, it marks a third consecutive year on the academic all-district team.
Carson-Newman's four selections are the most in the South Atlantic Conference. The Eagles and Florida Tech are tied for the most selections in Super Region II.
Dillingham is an exercise science major who carries a 3.48 grade point average. The running back has played in every game thus far for the Eagles. The junior has 155 yards rushing with at least 30 yards gained in every game in which he has tallied a carry.
Dillingham's top effort came at Brevard when he rushed six times for 46 yards.
Davis, a biology/pre-med major with a 3.91 GAP, hasn't registered a catch when he's been at tight end for the Eagles, but he has provided for C-N in a role akin to a second tackle. In fact, Davis does have a start this season at the position.
The senior is the recipient of the John Abe Teague Award for the member of the Carson-Newman football team who best represents the values instilled by C-N. He has helped block for an offense that ranks top 20 in the country and a rushing attack that's top 10 nationally.
Gallman makes his third appearance on the all-district team. The finance major and All State AFCA Good Works Team member carries a 3.60 GPA.
In addition to his on-field achievements and work in the classroom, Gallman has helped with the Jefferson City Food Bank and reads to kids at Jefferson City Elementary frequently. He has volunteered each year with Luke 14, a special needs day where he goes to Manley Baptist Church to assist with activities.
The senior has volunteered at Carson-Newman's yearly day of service, Operation INASMUCH, and the football team's annual day of service. In 2015, he spent a day as a coach for a football camp organized by Garth Brooks Teammates for Kids Foundation. He also assisted with moving the Voice of the Eagles Adam Cavalier and his wife into their new home.
Gallman is second on the team in knockdowns in 2016, he also ranks second in overall grade behind Austin Lewis (Ponte Vedra, Fla.). Gallman has helped block for an Eagle offense that ranks 17th in the country in total offense and sixth in rushing.
Finally, Booker, a physics major with a 3.53 GPA, makes his first appearance on the all-district team in his senior year. A preseason first team All-SAC selection, Booker has 27 tackles this season for the Eagles' defense include a season-high eight against Lenoir-Rhyne.
That game, he also had three tackles for loss – a career-best mark.
Booker registered sacks against Humboldt State and Wingate, he ranks 11th all-time in the stat category for Carson-Newman in a career.
All four of the Eagles' academic all-district selections will be on display Saturday when C-N takes on North Greenville. Kickoff from Tigerville is set for 1 p.m. Coverage on the Eagle Sports Network starts at noon with the AEC Tailgate Show on Joy 620 (WRJZ-AM, Knoxville), Mountain Country 106.3 (WPFT-FM, Sevierville) and online at cneagles.com/live.
NCAA DIVISION II (Super Region 2)
FIRST TEAM
Pos. Name School Yr. Hometown GPA Major
QB Kaleb Nobles WEST FLORIDA Gr. Fitzgerald, Ga. 3.30 Physical education
WR Evan Altizer TUSCULUM Jr. Weddington, N.C. 3.76 English
WR Holden Beemiller NEWBERRY (SC) Jr. Chandler, Ariz. 3.78 Business administration
TE Kooper Davis CARSON-NEWMAN Sr. Selmer, Tenn. 3.91 Biology
RB Jared Dillingham CARSON-NEWMAN Jr. Central, S.C. 3.48 Exercise science
RB Colt Freeman MISSISSIPPI COLLEGE So. Olive Branch, Miss. 3.56 Business administration
OL Dan Gallman CARSON-NEWMAN Sr. Naples, Fla. 3.69 Finance
OL Lawrence Guyot MISSISSIPPI COLLEGE So. Bartlett, Tenn. 3.91 Kinesiology (sports management)
OL Sam Hall NEWBERRY (SC) Jr. Conway, S.C. 4.00 Biology
OL Cory Sanicky FLORIDA TECH Sr. Redondo Beach, Calif. 3.71 Information systems
OL Jacob Slagle LENOIR-RHYNE Sr. Sharpsburg, Ga. 3.89 Religious development
PK Kyle Gullikson FLORIDA TECH So. Titusville, Fla. 3.69 Ocean engineering
DB Manny Abad FLORIDA TECH Sr. Fort Lauderdale, Fla. 4.00 Accounting
DB Chris Manning MISSISSIPPI COLLEGE Jr. Section, Ala. 3.31 Psychology
DB Carl Mattox MARS HILL Sr. Athens, Ga. 3.76 Business
LB Reggie Barnes WEST FLORIDA Sr. Odessa, Fla. 3.73 Business
LB Zack Singleton WINGATE Jr. Germantown, N.C. 3.87 Community & commercial recreation
LB Chris Stapleton FLORIDA TECH Sr. Navarre, Fla. 3.80 Business administration
DL Phalen Booker CARSON-NEWMAN Sr. Waveland, Miss. 3.53 Physics
DL Chris Boykins WINGATE So. Shelby, N.C. 3.85 Sport management
DL John Williamson WEST FLORIDA So. Spanish Fort, Ala. 3.56 Business administration management
P Hunter Cantrell TUSCULUM Jr. Sparta, Tenn. 3.37 Environmental science
