Augustana senior defensive end Michael Daniels (Geneseo HS, Geneseo, Ill.) has been named to the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) Academic All-America football first team it was announced Tuesday. His selection marks the 165th time an Augustana student-athlete has earned Academic All-America recognition, 33 of which have come in the sport of football.
 
A four-year letter winner on the gridiron and a four-time CCIW academic all-conference honoree, Daniels carries a 3.99 grade point average with majors in accounting and business administration (concentration on finance). His GPA within his major is 4.00. A Presidential Scholar, Aristea Honor Society member and dean's list honoree every term at Augustana, he will graduate in May of 2017.
 
Daniels, who was a two-year starter at linebacker, moved to defensive end as a senior and led all Viking down lineman in total tackles (35), solos stops (14), assisted tackles (21), tackles for loss (six) and sacks (2½). He finished his career with 147 tackles—75 solo and 72 assisted—11½ tackles for loss and three sacks.
 
Michael is the son of Tom and Becky Daniels of Geneseo, Illinois. While at Augustana, he served on the football team's Leadership Council and was a member of Fellowship of Christian Athletes. Away from the gridiron, he was a member of the Real Estate Investment Club and handled lead alto saxophone duties in the Augustana Jazz Band.
 
Daniels' work history during his time at Augustana includes serving as a payroll specialist for Anderson Financial in Rock Island, Illinois, as a college financial representative for Northwestern Mutual in Davenport, Iowa and as an audit intern for Deloitte & Touche, also in Davenport.
 
Augustana has long been a leader in the number of Academic All-Americans produced, currently ranking seventh nationally with 165 (regardless of division). The Vikings are third among NCAA Division III schools and lead both the CCIW and the state of Illinois in number of selections.
 
Among those selections, 33 have been produced by the Augustana football program. Quarterback Ken Anderson was the school's first Academic All-American in 1970. The most recent Viking gridder honored before Daniels was defensive end Thomas Enke, a first team selection in 2014. Center Eric Dratnol was honored in 2013, the same year linebacker Erik Westerberg was recognized for the third time. Other multiple winners in football include Steve Sanders (1983-85), Ryan Carpenter (1995-96), Chris Meskan (1997-98), Todd Baldwin (2001-02), Adam Guy (2002-03) and Blaine Westemeyer (2008-09).