Ellis first two-time Academic All-American for Razorbacks

AUSTIN, Texas — Senior linebacker Brooks Ellis became the first Arkansas football player in school history to earn Academic All-America honors twice in a career  on Thursday when he was named to the 2016 Academic All-America Division I football team as selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA).

The 20th football Academic All-American in school history, Ellis is a first-team honoree after earning second-team acclaim a year ago.

He is the only player from the Southeastern Conference (SEC) to be selected to the first team.

A three-time SEC Academic Honor Roll member and two-year team captain, Ellis carries a 3.82 GPA as a pre-professional exercise science major with aspirations of being a doctor after his playing days.

In addition to his major, Ellis is on a pre-med plan and spent a week in Belize this past May with his biology classmates.

Earlier this month, the Fayetteville, Arkansas, native was named a National Scholar-Athlete and one of 12 finalists for the 2016 William V. Campbell Trophy by the National Football Foundation (NFF) and College Hall of Fame.

Considered by many to be the “Academic Heisman,” the Campbell Trophy recognizes an individual as the absolute best football scholar-athlete in the nation. Ellis and the 11 other finalists will each receive an $18,000 postgraduate scholarship as a member of the NFF National Scholar-Athlete Class, presented by Fidelity Investments.

The finalists are set to travel to New York City for the 59th NFF Annual Awards Dinner on Dec. 6, where their accomplishments will be highlighted in front of one of the most powerful audiences in all of sports.

At the event, one member of the class will be declared the winner of the 27th William V. Campbell Trophy and have his postgraduate scholarship increased to $25,000.

Ellis also was selected to the 2016 Academic All-District 6 first team by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) for the second straight year and was tabbed a semifinalist for the 2016 Wuerffel Trophy both on Nov. 3.

On the field, Ellis led the Razorbacks in tackles during the regular season for the second straight year with 78 and also recorded a team-high 7.0 tackles for loss.

For his career, he has totaled 285 tackles, including 22.5 for loss, 3.5 sacks, two forced fumbles, 13 pass breakups and four interceptions, returning one 47 yards for a touchdown during a win at then-No. 15 TCU earlier this season.