Anthony Gebhart named Academic All-American

Article courtesy of Western Michigan University athletic media relations 

KALAMAZOO, Mich. - Western Michigan’s Anthony Gebhart was named First Team ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America on Wednesday, becoming the first Bronco to earn the award since Mike Hutchings in 1998. Gebhart, an economics major with a 3.83 GPA, became a two-time ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District IV honoree earlier this fall and is just the seventh WMU football student-athlete to earn Academic All-America in program history.

Gebhart, an Addison, Ill., native, joins a list of six names (one Bronco earned the award twice in his career) on the program’s Academic All-America list. He is the first defensive back to earn the honor and only the fifth first-team selection in program history. Hutchings (wide receiver) was the last to earn the award in 1998. Before that Rich Kaiser (defensive end) earned first-team honors in 1994 and 1995. You would have to go back to 1970 to find the first time a Bronco earned the award when Jon Bull (tackle) did so. Between Boll and Kaiser, Dan Arbour (defensive end) and Les Garrett (linebacker) earned second team in 1973 and 19881, respectively.

Gebhart (5-9, 190 lb.), who in 2005 walked-on to the Western Michigan football team after transferring from Lake Forest College (Division III) is a great story.

He was a member of the defensive scout team that season but earned his way onto the defensive unit in 2006. He made two starts but appeared in all 13 games, making 45 tackles and one interception. He did not lead the team in any category but his determination led to him getting a scholarship.

Gebhart entered his senior season in 2007 and early in the year was named team captain. He has gone on to lead the team in interceptions and led the defensive backfield with 6.0 TFLs, while finishing second in tackles with 84. He again appeared in every game, starting eight.

He not only has been excellent on the field, he has done the right things in the classroom. He was named First Team ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District IV in 2006 and again this year. He was a Draddy semifinalist and was recently chosen as the Michigan Chapter of the National Football Foundation’s Division I Scholar Athlete of the Year. His latest accolade came in the form of First Team ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America.

Anthony Gebhart embodies perserverance and hard work in college football.