DESTIN, Fla. – The University of South Alabama's Rush Hendricks was selected the Sun Belt Conference Postgraduate Scholar Athlete of the Year, receiving the honor at the league's annual spring meetings Tuesday.
Teammate Ross Metheny was also recognized at the event after being chosen as USA's representative on the Sun Belt Conference Leadership Team.
Hendricks — a 6-3, 235-pound tight end who hails from Jay, Fla. — earned his degree in exercise science earlier this month, graduating with a 4.00 grade-point average in the process. Last fall Hendricks was voted first-team CoSIDA Academic All-District IV, while he has twice been named to the Sun Belt Commissioner's List.
In helping the Jaguars to a 6-6 record during the 2013 campaign — including a 4-3 mark in league action — he ranked among the team leaders after he was credited with six special teams tackles; that included two in a Homecoming victory over Kent State, a game he also had a reception in. A member of the program since 2010, Hendricks has lettered on three occasions while playing tight end in addition to his role on USA's special teams units.
Hendricks will enroll in the school's physical therapy program in the fall and has one season of eligibility remaining.
Metheny was selected to represent the department on the Leadership Team after earning second-team all-conference honors in the fall and quarterbacking the Jags to six victories in their first full season at the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision level. The Stephens City, Va., native — who received his master's degree in education leadership with a 4.0 GPA this month — ranked among the top 10 in the SBC in four statistical categories: total offense, passing yards per game, pass efficiency rating and rushing yards per outing.
He was also voted the Jaguar Male Student-Athlete of the Year following his final season of eligibility at the collegiate level.
For more information about South Alabama athletics, check back with www.usajaguars.com, and follow the Jaguars at www.twitter.com/USAJaguarSports. Season tickets for all Jaguar athletic events can be purchased by calling (251) 461-1USA (1872).
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