Oct. 1, 2008

DALLAS - University of Maryland senior tight end Dan Gronkowski has been named a semifinalist for the 2008 Draddy Trophy, the National Foundation & College Hall of Fame (NFF) announced Wednesday.

Gronkowski is one of 164 football student-athletes vying for the award, which recognizes academic excellence by a collegiate football player, and he is also a candidate for the 2008 NFF National Scholar-Athlete Awards. The NFF Awards Committee will announce as many as 15 finalists on Oct. 29. Each finalist will be recognized as part of the 2008 National Scholar Athlete Class, receiving an $18,000 post-graduate scholarship. The Draddy winner, who will receive a $25,000 post-graduate scholarship, will be announced Dec. 9.

Gronkowski is an MBA candidate who graduated in three years with a degree in marketing. The Amherst, N.Y., native also is on the watch list for the 2008 John Mackey Award, bestowed to the nation's top tight end.

Gronkowski, who shared starting duties the previous two seasons with former Terp Joey Haynos, already has set career highs this season with 10 receptions for 96 yards and two touchdowns. He recorded a career-best four catches in an upset of then-No. 23 Cal on Sept. 13, including a 1-yard touchdown, and he added a 4-yard TD reception during a win over Eastern Michigan the following week.

Nominated by their schools, which are limited to one nominee each, Draddy Trophy semifinalists must be a senior or graduate student in their final year of eligibility, have a GPA of at least 3.2 on a 4.0 scale, have outstanding football ability as a first-team player or significant contributor and have demonstrated strong leadership and citizenship. In addition to the postgraduate scholarship, the award recipient will receive a 25-pound bronze trophy.

The Draddy award was established in 1990 to honor former NFF Chairman Vincent DePaul Draddy, a Manhattan College quarterback who developed the Izod and Lacoste brands.