Ferris State's Jake Visser Named 2008 GLIAC McAvoy Award Winner

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BAY CITY, Mich. -- Ferris State University senior defensive tackle Jake Visser has been named recipient of the 2008 Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) Jack H. McAvoy Award as announced by Commissioner Tom Brown. The award is presented annually to the GLIAC football player who best combines outstanding character and leadership on the field, in the classroom, and in the community.

A Coopersville, Michigan native, Visser has earned a 3.89 grade point average (4.0 scale) while majoring in History Education. He has been named to the GLIAC All-Academic football team four times, is a three-time member of the GLIAC Football All Conference First Team, and is a two-time ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America First Team selection as selected by CoSIDA.

Off the field, Visser has been involved in the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, volunteered at Coopersville High School and FSU football camps, and spent much time reading to elementary school classrooms and visiting local hospital patients.

Visser, a two-time (2007-08) Ferris State MVP, led the Bulldogs this season with 105 total tackles (56 solo), 16.0 tackles forr loss (-71 yds.), and 7.5 sacks (-54 yds.). He capped off an outstanding career by being named among the 24 candidates for the 2008 Harlon Hill Award, which is annually presented to the top collegiate player at the Division II level. He is the only offensive or defensive lineman from across the nation to make the list. He concludes his four-year career ranking sixth among FSU's all-time tackle leaders with 395 career stops and fourth in sacks, with 27.5 total.

"This award recognizes the accomplishments of our well rounded student-athletes," stated Commissioner Brown. "The McAvoy Award is not just given on the basis of athletic ability, but is given to a student-athlete who has performed well in the classroom and has a strong sense of community involvement. Jake Visser is a fine example of just one of the 4,000 quality student-athletes we have in the GLIAC."

Visser becomes the fourth Bulldog to win the award, joining: Mike Klobucher, the 2006 recipient, Mo Harris, who won the McAvoy Award in 1999, and Chris Pulliams, who earned the honors in 1996. Ferris State has had the most recipients of the award (4), with Michigan Tech and Saginaw Valley State in second with two apiece. The Award is named for former Hillsdale College director of athletics and head football coach, Jack McAvoy, who was instrumental in the founding of the Midwest Intercollegiate Football Conference (MIFC), now known as the GLIAC.

Jake H. McAvoy Award Winners

2008  Jake Visser  Ferris State

2007  Mark Nicolet  Hillsdale

2006  Mike Klobucher  Ferris State

2005  Matthew Shem  Northern Michigan

2004  Neil Baumgartner  Saginaw Valley State

2003  Josh Sherko  Northern Michigan

          Scott Stuible  Northwood

2002  Jason Battershell  Saginaw Valley State

2001  Chris Volz  Indianapolis

2000  Alex Kowalski  Michigan Tech

1999  Mo Harris  Ferris State

1998  Jeff Fox  Grand Valley State

1997  Matt Fishburn  Wayne State

          Eric Tree  Michigan Tech

1996  Chris Pulliams  Ferris State