Thursday, December 4, 2014
by Butler Athletic Media Relations

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – Butler defensive back JoJo Ciancio, a model of excellence in the classroom and on the football field, has been named to the first team of the Capital One Academic All-America Division I Football Team®, chosen by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA). The national honor capped a week of academic recognition for the Butler senior.

A total of 24 Division I football players were named first team on the Capital One Academic All-America Team®. An additional 26 players were named to the second team. Ciancio was the lone player selected from the Pioneer Football League and one of just three players chosen from Indiana, along with Corey Robinson of Notre Dame and Mark Murphy of Indiana.

Ciancio started all 11 games for the Bulldogs this past season, and he wound up leading the team in tackles with 84. He ranked ninth overall in the PFL in tackles and finished second among defensive backs with his 7.5 average. The Butler defensive leader also led the Bulldogs and tied for tenth in the PFL with three pass interceptions. He was named honorable mention on the 2014 All-PFL Team.

An honor student boasting a 3.83 grade point average in economics/finance, Ciancio was named a co-recipient of the PFL's initial Scholar-Athlete of the Year Award earlier this week. He also was named to the PFL Academic All-Conference Team for a second straight year. The Darien, Ill., native was chosen to the 2014 Capital One Academic All-District Team, and he's earned a spot on the PFL Academic Honor Roll for four straight years.

Ciancio is Butler's sixth football Academic All-American and the first since 2012, when defensive back Jayme Szafranski earned the honor. He's Butler's fifth defensive player to be named Academic All-America and the second defensive back.