Fifth Texan In School History
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, November 30, 2016
STEPHENVILLE, Texas—The banner year for Tarleton State University student-athlete Cody Burtscher continued today as the recently named Lone Star Conference Linebacker of the Year earned All-America acclaim for his work in the classroom.
“I can’t be more proud of Cody,” said Tarleton’s head football coach Todd Whitten. “He’s been a tremendous leader for us on and off the field. He’s such a hard-working and intelligent young man. This is a tremendous honor for him, and I’m glad to see him recognized for the hard work he puts into his studies, to go along with the hard work he put in on the field for us this year.”
Burtscher just completed his final season of competition at Tarleton and enjoyed a career year as the starting middle linebacker in the Texan defense.
A native of Glen Rose, Burtscher recently was named first-team All-Lone Star Conference (LSC), Academic All-LSC, and the LSC’s Linebacker of the Year. Earlier this year, he was named a national semifinalist for the National Football Foundation’s William V. Campbell trophy.
Burtscher finished the season as the LSC leader in tackles with 117, while tacking on 6.0 tackles for a loss, 4.5 sacks and three interceptions. He was named the LSC Defensive Player of the Week after lifting the Texans to a 35-5 win over Angelo State in September. He also boasts a 3.93 grade point average as a bio-medical science major.
Burtscher came to Tarleton in 2013 after a standout career at Glen Rose High School where he starred on both sides of the football—earning All-State honors as a running back and safety. Upon arrival in Stephenville, Burtscher spent his first two seasons on the offensive side before transitioning to linebacker prior to the 2015 season. Over his two years on defense, Burtscher has amassed 218 tackles, including 15.0 for a loss and 4.5 sacks.
He is the fifth Texan in school history to earn Academic All-America honors and the second in Tarleton’s NCAA era, joining his former teammate Charles Moore who was a CoSIDA All-America honoree in 2014. Burtscher joins Moore, Mike Loveless (1990), Ricky Bush (1981), and Tommy Konz (1972) to earn Academic All-America recognition.
Cody is the son of Shelly and Robert Burtscher.
Tarleton, a member of The Texas A&M University System, provides a student-focused, value-driven educational experience marked by academic innovation and exemplary service, and dedicated to transforming students into tomorrow’s professional leaders. With campuses in Stephenville, Fort Worth, Waco, Midlothian and online, Tarleton engages with its communities to provide real-world learning experiences and to address societal needs while maintaining its core values of integrity, leadership, tradition, civility, excellence and service.
#
Contact: Nate Bural – Assistant Athletic Director for Athletic Communications
254-968-1802
[email protected]
