Nov. 8, 2012

Gamecock sophomore wide receiver Damiere Byrd claimed a spot on the 2012 Capital One Academic All-District 4 Football Team, as selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA), the organization released today.

Byrd ranks second on the Gamecocks in receiving yardage on the year and has two touchdown receptions, one of those a 94-yard catch on Sept. 15 against UAB, South Carolina’s longest play from scrimmage this year. The sophomore sport and entertainment management major also has posted seven tackles as part of the special teams unit.

Byrd becomes the third Gamecock in as many years to earn such distinction. Dalton Wilson garnered a first-team spot in 2011, while Damario Jeffery made the 2010 team.

Eight schools in the fourth district, which is made up of all Division I teams in Alabama, Florida, Georgia and South Carolina, had two nominees make the team, including SEC squads Auburn and Georgia. Six had one member each.

Byrd advances onto the national ballot, made up of the eight district teams. The Capital One Academic All-America Division I Football Teams will be released on Thurs., Dec. 6.

The CoSIDA Academic All-America program honors student-athletes for their combined performances athletically and in the classroom. To be eligible, a student-athlete must be a sophomore academically and athletically and a starter or significant contributor to the team. All-District honorees from the eight geographical districts will be placed on the national ballot. Capital One has been the entitlement rights holder of the awards since 2011.

Capital One Academic All-District 4 Team

NCAA Division I – as selected by CoSIDA

QB – Aaron Murray, Georgia

WR – Jaron Brown, Clemson

WR – Damiere Byrd, South Carolina

TE – Evan Landi, USF

OL – Trey Clark, South Alabama

OL – Michael Davis, Georgia State

OL – Dalton Freeman, Clemson

OL – Ty Frix, Georgia

OL – Barrett Jones, Alabama

K – Dustin Hopkins, Florida State

P – Steven Clark, Auburn

DB – Lyle Dankenbring, UCF

DB – Brandon McCladdie, The Citadel

DB – Michael Prendergast, Samford

DB – James Zotto, Wofford

LB – Mark Hogan, Georgia State

LB – Carson Smith, The Citadel

LB – Ashton Richardson, Auburn

DL – Kyle Lucas, Troy

DL – Zach Murray, Wofford

DL – Alex Page, South Alabama

DL – Jeremy Towns, Samford