Demons’ Chris Zirkle wins national academic honor

NATCHITOCHES – Northwestern State junior offensive lineman Chris Zirkle’s academic and competitive excellence earned him one of only 49 spots on the 2017 FCA Athletic Directors Academic All-Star Team announced Friday.

Zirkle, who has a 3.87 grade point average in business administration, was a second-team All-Southland Conference selection after an outstanding season as the Demons’ left guard last fall. He led NSU’s offensive line in grades in eight of 11 games.

Zirkle had a team-best average grade of 81.2 percent for his performance in NSU’s 11 games. He topped 80 percent eight times, with a high of 86 percent against FCS playoff entry Nicholls in a 14-10 loss.

He was among four Southland Conference players selected for the honor, joined by CoSIDA Academic All-American of the Year Marlon Walls, a Stephen F. Austin safety, along with All-American offensive lineman John Cook of Central Arkansas and offensive lineman Brian Hernandez from Nicholls.

The Missouri Valley Conference had nine players chosen and the Ivy League followed with eight representatives on a squad selected by a panel of FCS athletic directors.

“We’re extremely proud of Chris and how he represents our team on and off the field,” said new Demon head coach Brad Laird. “We congratulate him and his family on this well-deserved national honor.”

Zirkle, a League City, Texas, native, has been a College Sports Information Directors of America Academic All-District 6 selection each of the past two seasons. That has elevated him to a 40-man ballot comprised of top scholar-athletes on the offensive line from all of the country’s Division I football programs, FBS and FCS.

Zirkle is a nominee for All-Louisiana honors when that team is announced soon. He will also make his second straight appearance on the Academic All-Southland Team to be released next week after the FCS national championship game on Saturday, hosted by the Southland in Frisco, Texas.