NOTRE DAME, Ind. - Bethel University safety David Benjamin (Sr., Roseville, Minn.) and defensive end Joey Hofmeyer (Sr., Hospers, Iowa) have been named to the 2009 ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District V First Team for football, as selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA).




David Benjamin.jpg" style="margin: 5px; position: relative; float: left;" />Benjamin is one of the top three tacklers for the Royals so far this season. He has 36 solo tackles and eight assists for a total of 44. Benjamin also has an interception, three pass breakups, two forced fumbles, and two fumble recoveries. One of those fumble recoveries came last weekend against Gustavus and led to a Bethel touchdown shortly thereafter. Benjamin is part of a pass defense that has the most interceptions in the MIAC. Last year, he was named to the ESPN The Magazine CoSIDA Academic All-America Second Team. Benjamin carries a 3.99 GPA as a biochemistry and molecular biology major and has recently been accepted to medical school.


Joey Hofmeyer.jpg" style="margin: 5px; position: relative; float: left;" />Over the past two seasons, Hofmeyer has emerged as one of the anchors of Bethel's defensive line. So far this season, he has 12 solo tackles and eight assists for 20 total. He has six tackles for losses of 33 yards, including 4.5 sacks for 28 yards lost. Bethel leads the conference in sacks and is second in rush defense. Hofmeyer has also broken up two passes and has recovered two fumbles as the Royals lead the conference in turnover margin as well. Hofmeyer has a 3.94 GPA in business.



By virtue of earning All-District First Team honors, both Benjamin and Hofmeyer are eligible to be named to the Academic All-American teams. To be eligible, a student-athlete must be a varsity starter or key reserve, maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.30 on a scale of 4.00, have reached sophomore athletic and academic standings at his/her current institution and be nominated by his/her sports information director.

Since the program's inception in 1952, CoSIDA has bestowed Academic All-America® honors on more than 14,000 student-athletes in Divisions I, II, III and NAIA covering all NCAA championship sports.