Tim Dukovich

Senior defensive lineman Tim Dukovich (Gibsonia, Pa./Hampton) and senior quarterback Michael Barnes (Gates Mills, Ohio/Mayfield) were named to the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District IV team which is selected annually by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA).

Dukovich was named to the first-team All-District IV squad from his defensive line position and will advance to the national ballot where he will have the chance to become Denison's 54th Academic All-America pick.  The last Academic All-America from the Big Red football team was Jon Dunham in 1999.

After missing the 2007 season while studying abroad, Dukovich is capping of his career at Denison with his best season yet. Dukovich has 23 tackles while starting all eight games.  He is tied for second on the squad with 2.0 sacks and leads the team with two fumble recoveries.  In 23 career games played, Dukovich has 64 career tackles and 6.0 sacks to his credit.  An economics major from Gibsonia, Pa., Dukovich carries a 3.72 grade point average at Denison.

Michael Barnes

Barnes was named to the Academic All-District second-team and was one of just two quarterbacks selected to the academic all-star squad.  This is Barnes' first ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District honor in football, however he was a first-team All-District and second-team Academic All-America pick for his efforts in men's track and field last spring.

As one of the North Coast Athletic Conference's top all-purpose threats, Barnes has settled into the quarterback role since making the move to the position early in his junior season.  This year he has rushed for 510 yards which ranks him eighth in the NCAC and has thrown for 996 yards and seven touchdown passes.  In week one against Kalamazoo, Barnes tied Denison's single-game rushing record with 270 yards off just 17 carries. 

In 38 career games Barnes has totaled 1,754 all purpose yards while also recording 100 career tackles after spending two years as the team's starting cornerback.  An economics major from Gates Mills, Ohio, Barnes carries a 3.86 grade point average.

Created in 1952 by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA), the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America Teams Program is a premier, nationwide college scholar-athlete awards program. It recognizes 816 outstanding student-athletes annually in Division I, II, III and NAIA covering all NCAA championship sports.