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Senior linebacker Hunter Hillenmeyer was named yesterday to the 2002 Verizon Academic All-America® Team, becoming the first Commodore football player to earn first-team academic recognition in nearly 20 years.

The honor continues a banner season for Hillenmeyer, who became one of NCAA’s leading tacklers despite playing a new position, middle linebacker. The native of Nashville concluded the season as the Southeastern Conference leader with 100 solo tackles and 169 total tackles. He also ranked in the top five nationally in both categories. Hillenmeyer was joined by two other SEC student-athletes — Jon Stinchcomb of Georgia and Rodney Reed of LSU.

The Verizon Academic All-America recognition comes just weeks after Hillenmeyer was named a “National Scholar Athlete” by the National Football Foundation and College Football Hall of Fame. He was just one of six Division I players to earn the honor.

Hillenmeyer becomes the first Commodore named to the first-team Verizon Academic All-American squad since wide receiver Phil Roach was recognized in 1983, and just the seventh Vanderbilt player named to first-team squad since the award began 50 years ago. Six other former Commodores have earned second-team Academic All-American honors.

The Academic All-America program was created in 1952 by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA). Verizon, in cooperation with CoSIDA, has been the exclusive sponsor since 1985. To be nominated, the student-athlete must be a starter or important reserve with at least a 3.20 cumulative grade point average (on a 4.0 scale) for his or her career.

Posted 12/03/02 at 10 a.m.