Sandpoint grad named All-American

By Jerek Wolcott
Carroll College Sports Staff
Reader Contributor

Carroll College offensive guard Todd Pays has been named to the College Sports Information Directors of America College Division Academic All-America First Team.

Pays, a Sandpoint High School graduate, was a starter on the offensive line that produced the second rushing offense in the Frontier Conference and the No. 18 ranking in the NAIA with 209.8 yards per game.

He is a civil engineering major with a 3.93 GPA.

Todd Pays during practice at Caroll College. Photo by Jerek Wolcott.

“This is an outstanding award for Todd,” head coach Mike Van Dies said. “This is great recognition for what he has done on the field and in the classroom. Civil engineering is not an easy major, and it shows that an athlete can excel on the field, excel in the classroom and be a great human being as well.”

The award is the first for a Carroll football player. To be eligible for the award, a player must have been on the CoSIDA Academic All-District Team. The Saints have placed more players on the all-district team than any other program at any level over the past two seasons.