Missouri State University

The Missouri Valley Football Conference announced its 2008 All-Academic Team on Tuesday, and Missouri State was well represented with three second-team team members and two honorable mention selections.

Second-team All-Valley guard David Arkin (So., Wichita, Kan.) joins seniors Chris Brehmer (DT, Rock Hill, Mo.) and Chris Geisz (WR, St. Louis, Mo.) on the MVFC All-Academic second team, while junior Jared Emery (WR, Mountain Grove, Mo.) and senior Clayton Dickehut (DT, Derby, Kan.) received All-Academic honorable mention laurels.  For Geisz, an honorable mention All-Valley receiver, this marks his fourth Academic All-Conference selection, while Brehmer, a 2008 Bears' co-captain, was named to the CoSIDA/ESPN the Magazine Academic All-District team earlier this fall and earns league academic honors for the second time.

Arkin (OG, 6-5, 281, So., Wichita, Kan., Kapaun High) has a 3.66 grade point average in Construction Management with a double minor in Real Estate and Finance. He started all 11 games for the Bears and earned the 2008 Missouri Valley Good Neighbor Award as well as 2008 All-Missouri Valley Football Conference preseason and postseason honors. He was a two-time MVFC Offensive Lineman of the Week in 2007 and also earned 2007 Second-Team All-Missouri Valley Football Conference Offensive Lineman honors as well as All-MVFC Newcomer Team distinction. He graded out at a remarkable 86% for the season and was the team's offensive lineman of the week four times and offensive player of the week twice.   

Brehmer (DT, 6-5, 270, Sr., Rock Hill, Mo., Webster Groves High) has a 3.48 GPA in Psychology with a double minor in Spanish and Chemistry. He started all 11 games, earning 2008 CoSIDA/ESPN the Magazine Academic All-District honors. He also earned the team's 2007 defensive lineman of the year and outstanding lifter honors as well as 2005 defensive scout team player of the year. Brehmer posted 13 tackles this season, including 5 solos and a season high 4 stops at South Dakota State (11 11/1/08).

Geisz (WR, 6-2, 209, Sr., St. Louis, Mo., Lindbergh High) has a 3.54 GPA in Sales/Sales Management. He started all 11 games for the Bears and led the Bears in touchdown receptions this year with six, including game-tying score as time expired at Indiana State (11/22/08). He finished third on the team in pass receptions (25) and second in receiving yards (344), averaging 13.8 yards per catch this season. For his career, he started 21 of 44 career games and had four receptions for 56 yards against Western Illinois (10/4/08) and 4 catches for 42 yards at South Dakota State (11/1/08).

Dickehut (DE, 6-3, 245, Sr., Derby, Kan., Derby High) has a 3.40 GPA in Construction Management. He started all 11 games at defensive end for the Bears this season and all 22 games of his MSU career.  He finished with 73 career tackles at Missouri State, including 35 this season with 3.5 for loss and a fumble recovery with one sack. He was a 2007 Missouri Valley Football Conference All-Newcomer Team selection.

Emery (WR, 6-3, 197, Jr., Mountain Grove, Mo., Mountain Grove High) has a 3.71 GPA in Microbiology and Biotechnology. He played in 11 games this season with one start and finished fifth on the team in receptions (15) and receiving yards (189). He led the Bears with 3 catches for 43 yards at Indiana State (11/22/08) and also had 3 catches for 43 yards against Southern Illinois (10/25/08). He averaged 12.6 yards per catch, third best among MUSU's regular receivers.