NORMAN — Oklahoma center Gabe Ikard was named to the Capital One Academic All-America Division I Football Team on Thursday as selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) Thursday.
Ikard claimed second-team honors last season and becomes the first OU player since Brian Bosworth in 1986 to receive Academic All-America first team accolades.
He also became OU’s first player to earn academic All-America honors in back-to-back seasons since Ron Shotts in 1966-67. Ikard is one of 22 Sooner players to earn Academic All-America accolades and is one of only four to receive the distinction multiple times.
The Sooners placed a player on the Academic All-America squad four of the last five years. Center Brian Lepak was named to the team in 2010. Quarterback Sam Bradford and running back Demarco Murray were named to the team in 2008.
Ikard joins tight end Cameron Brate of Harvard as the only other junior selected to the first team in 2012. The Oklahoma City native has started 11 games at center for the Sooners this season. He has played an integral role for an Oklahoma squad that captured a share of an eighth Big 12 championship and an offense that ranks fifth in the nation in passing offense (341.3 yards per game) and 10th in total offense (505.9 ypg).
— John Shinn
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