T.J. Ridley
Senior football player T.J. Ridley has been named to the CoSIDA/ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District First Team for the second consecutive year. Ridley, an Edina, Minn. native, who has been a four-year regular for the Gusties as a defensive back and special teams player, is a biology major with a 3.95 grade point average. His name will now go on the ballot for the College Division Academic All-America Team and that team will be announced in early December. Ridley was a Second Team CoSIDA/ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America selection last season.
A four-year letterwinner as a defensive back for the Gustavus football team, Ridley missed the first game this season with an injured foot, but has played in every game since. In addition to playing the free safety position on defense, Ridley is also a member of the kick and punt coverage teams. In eight games this season, Ridley has compiled 13 solo tackles and 11 assisted tackles for 24 total tackles. He has also recorded 2 pass breakups and forced a fumble. In 34 career games, Ridley has compiled 44 solo tackles and 48 assisted tackles for 92 total tackles. He has also intercepted two passes.
Earlier this fall, Ridley was selected as a semifinalist for the 2009 National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame National Scholar-Athlete Awards.
In addition to competing on both the football and hockey teams, Ridley is also very active in other campus activities as he is a member of the Tau Psi Omega fraternity (Reds), Student Athlete Volunteer Educators (SAVE) and serves as a Biology Department teaching assistant.
Great Job man, you deserve it, you worked hard all year.