CLEVELAND – Josh Cain, a defensive back from Jacksonville State has been chosen as one of two recipients of the Ninth Annual Division I Football Championship Subdivision Athletics Directors Association (FCS ADA) Scholar-Athletes of the Year. Andrew Miller of North Dakota was the other recipient of the $5,000 postgraduate scholarship.

The duo was selected from a group of six finalists. They will receive their awards during the FCS ADA Luncheon on Tuesday, June 22 at the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) Convention at the Marriott Hotel in Anaheim, Calif.

“Each year, the FCS ADA looks forward to honoring deserving student-athletes at our annual luncheon in June,” said FCS ADA President Peter Fields, chair of the FCS ADA Academic All-Star Team Selection Committee and athletics director at Montana State University.

“Our Association is proud to continue recognizing deserving student-athletes with postgraduate scholarships. This year's recipients represent the high quality of the applicants, but the high number of extremely deserving candidates continues to be extremely impressive.”

There were a total of 55 FCS players selected to the Academic All-Star Team in December, six of which were nominated for the postgraduate scholarships. Nominees were required to have a minimum grade point average of 3.20 (on a 4.00 scale) in undergraduate study and have been a starter or key player with legitimate athletics credentials.

They must have reached their second year of athletics and academic standing at the nominated institution and have completed a minimum of one full academic year at the nominated institution. They must also have participated in 50 percent of the games played at their designated position.

Cain, who is currently pursuing a master's degree in computer systems and software designs, started all 11 games for the 2009 Gamecocks, who finished with an 8-3 record.

The Wetumpka, Ala., native finished second on the team with 67 tackles and helped the defense lead the Ohio Valley Conference (OVC), allowing just 83 total points in seven OVC contests.

JSU also led the OVC in scoring defense, pass defense, pass defense efficiency, turnover margin, opponent first downs, and opponent third down conversion.

Off the field, Cain is a team huddle leader with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and volunteers with the Habitat for Humanity and Big Brothers/Big Sisters. In addition to earning numerous OVC honors, he was named to the American Football Coaches Association/All-State Good Works Team and was an ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America First Team selection in 2009. He was also honored by the Atlanta Area Council Boy Scouts of America by receiving the Georgia Peach of an Athlete Role Model Award earlier this spring. 

A special Review Committee of Football Championship Subdivision athletics directors was responsible for selecting the all-star team and scholarship finalists. Completing this task were Greg Burke, Northwestern State; Peter Fields, Montana State (chair); Brian Hutchinson, Morehead State; Marilyn McNeil, Monmouth; Ron Strollo, Youngstown State; Jeff Tingey, Idaho State; and Tim Van Alstine, Western Illinois.