GREENWOOD, Ind. – The 2017 College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) Academic All-District Football Teams were released Thursday and Gustavus co-captain linebacker and punter Casey Decker (Sr., Mapleton, Minn.) was named to the District 6 Team, which features student-athletes of institutions from Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. The CoSIDA Academic All-District Teams recognize the nation’s top student-athletes for their combined performances athletically and in the classroom.
Casey Decker
The Academic All-District award is the first for Decker, and is the first by a Gustie football player since Torey Asao (Chaska, Minn.) received the award in 2013.
Decker guided the Black and Gold defensive unit during the 2017 season, leading the team with 10 tackles for loss (4th/MIAC) and five sacks (7th/MIAC) – both career-high totals. Starting in all 10 games for the Gusties, decker compiled 55 tackles, broke up four passes, and forced one fumble.
In addition to making a difference as an edge rusher, Decker was also a vital member of the special teams unit as the team’s punter. He tallied career-best numbers with 2,021 yards off 54 punts, averaging 37.4 yards per punt (2nd/MIAC) while placing 11 inside the 20-yard line. Decker twice earned MIAC Player of the Week accolades, once for defensive play and once for special teams.
This year’s CoSIDA Academic All-District 6 Team includes eight other members of MIAC institutions – Christopher Lemke of Augsburg, Trey Anderson of Bethel, David Franta of Saint John’s, and Isaac Seering, Johnny Heller, Gavin Dauwalter, Elijah Rice, Vinny Pallini of St. Thomas. First-team Academic All-District honorees advance to the CoSIDA Academic All-America ballot, where first-, second-, and third-team All-America honorees will be selected later this month.
Great work Casey Decker – Nana Martha is so proud . I loved every game I attended – 🏈💗🏈. You have a great coach , helpers , players and fans 🏈🏈!