By FHSU SPORTS INFORMATION
Fort Hays State’s Jordan Starks and Sheldon Schmidt were named to the CoSIDA Academic All-District Team for 2019. Both were one of four individuals selected at their respective positions within Super Region 3. The honor is voted on by sports information and athletic communication directors within Super Region 3, which reflects a combination of both academic and athletic accomplishments.
Starks follows in the footsteps of Connor Shedeed, a CoSIDA Academic All-District and All-America selection last year. He took over the starting role at free safety this year after the graduation of Shedeed last year. In his first season in the starting role, the Tulsa, Oklahoma sophomore ranked third on the team in total tackles with 78, but led the team in solo stops with 45. He tied for the team lead in interceptions, while also recording a fumble recovery. Starks holds a 3.79 grade point average as a Finance major at FHSU.
A native of La Crosse, Kansas, Schmidt closed out his Fort Hays State career with 126 tackles, 22 tackles for loss, 12 sacks, and six fumble recoveries. He was the leading tackler among defensive linemen on the team this year with 43, while leading the team in sacks with four from his defensive end position. He started all 23 games on the defensive line since the beginning of his junior year. Schmidt holds a 3.34 grade point average as a Technology Studies major at FHSU.
Starks and Schmidt give Tiger Football an Academic All-District selection for the third straight year after Shedeed earned the distinction in 2018 and Doyin Jibowu earned it in 2017.