Fresno State Athletics
Fox Named National College Scholar-Athlete
11/1/2001 12:00:00 AM | Football
Nov. 1, 2001
MORRISTOWN, N.J. - Chairman of The National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame Jon F. Hanson announced its 2001 class of National College Scholar-Athletes, which represents 16 of the nation's finest college football student-athletes from all divisions of college football. Among those chosen is Fresno State football player Vernon Fox.
To be eligible for a National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame postgraduate fellowship, the nominee must be a senior or graduate student in his final year of eligibility, have a grade point average of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale, have shown superior academic application and performance, have outstanding football ability as a first team player, and have demonstrated strong leadership and citizenship.
Considered one of the nation's premier defensive backs, Vernon Fox has maintained an equal balance of excellence as an athlete and academian. Already possessing an undergraduate degree in sociology, Fox is currently in graduate school and continues to compile impressive academic accolades. He is a three-time Academic All-Western Athletic Conference selection and a perennial Dean's List member.
At 5-10, 200 pounds, Fox was a first-team All-WAC pick in 2000 and has started in a team-best 36 consecutive games at strong safety. He is quickly approaching 250 tackles for his career, 103 of which were the team's high in 1999. Also that year, Fox led the Bulldogs with 10 tackles in the EA Sports Las Vegas Bowl.
As active as Fox is on the field, he is equally as active off. A volunteer for the Stone Soup Community Agency and a member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, he has spent the last two summers at FCA camps working with high school athletes and participates in an after-school reading enhancement program.
"For 43 years, these prestigious awards have placed the spotlight on only a chosen few who have excelled above all in the area of scholarship, citizenship and athletic performance," said Hanson. "We are delighted to have this opportunity to honor these outstanding young men for all of their achievements."
At the Awards Dinner on December 11, one scholar-athlete will receive the Vincent dePaul Draddy Trophy. Often termed the "Academic Heisman," this award provides the winner with a $25,000 scholarship towards their postgraduate studies.
Since 1990, 11 scholar-athletes have been fortunate to walk away from the Awards Dinner with this much-acclaimed trophy. Past winners include Peyton Manning from the University of Tennessee and Danny Wuerffel from the University of Florida.
