Bay City, Mich. -- Michigan Technological University senior wide receiver Keith White (Rhinelander, Wis.) and Ferris State University senior defensive lineman Jake Visser (Coopersville, Mich.) have been named to the 2008 ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America First Team it was announced by the College Sports Information Directors of America.

White, with a 3.97 grade point average in mechanical engineering, was one of only two wide receivers selected to the College Division First Team. The College Division includes all football players nationwide in NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III and NAIA.

The Rhinelander, Wis., native tallied 63 catches for 944 yards and eight touchdowns in 2008 to help Michigan Tech to an 8-3 record and third place finish in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. He finished as the school record holder for career receiving yards with 2,377. He also wrapped up his career in second on Tech's all-time charts for receptions with 146 and receiving touchdowns with 22.

For the second consecutive year, Visser has earned an ESPN The Magazine
Academic All-America College Division First Team selection.

Visser, who previously also earned 2008 ESPN The Magazine Academic
All-District IV First Team recognition for the second year in a row, was
among four defensive linemen from across the country recognized as a
first-team pick.

Visser capped off an outstanding career by being named among the 24
candidates for the 2008 Harlon Hill Award, which is annually presented to
the top collegiate player at the Division II level. He was the only
offensive or defensive lineman from across the nation to make the list.
Visser attained all-conference accolades for the fourth-straight year which
included first-team recognition for the third year in a row and was voted
the GLIAC's Co-Defensive Lineman of the Year in 2008 for the second
consecutive campaign.

This season, Visser led the Bulldogs with 105 total tackles (56 solo), 16.0
tackles for loss (-71 yards) in addition to 7.5 sacks (-54 yards), two
fumble recoveries, four blocked kicks and a forced fumble in 11 contests.
He also notched his first career touchdown with a 34-yard interception
return at Hillsdale (Nov. 1). The returning All-America pick and two-time
(2007-08) team Most Valuable Player Award recipient finished the year
ranked third among the GLIAC leaders in tackles for loss (1.45 pg.), third
in sacks (.68 pg.) along with seventh in total tackles (9.5 tpg.).


The college division consists of all schools outside of the NCAA Division I
level. Student-athletes must have reached at least sophomore status
academically, maintain a 3.3 cumulative grade point average and also be a
starter or key reserve for their team to be nominated for Academic
All-America consideration. The voting was conducted by CoSIDA members.

This year marks the 57th anniversary of the Academic All-America program,
which was founded by CoSIDA in 1952 to recognize collegiate
student-athletes for their outstanding achievements in the classroom and on
the playing field. Over the years, the program has grown into one of the
most recognized and prestigious collegiate scholar-athlete awards
nationwide, honoring student-athletes from all NCAA championship sports.
This season marks ESPN The Magazine's fifth year of sponsoring the Academic
All-America program, which was formerly endorsed by both GTE and Verizon.