By Robert McKinney, Athletics Communications Director, (503) 370-6110

SALEM, ORE. -- Willamette University football players Josh Dean (Sr., QB, Dana Point, CA/Dana Hills HS) and Jack Nelson (Jr., ILB, Portland, OR/Jesuit HS) have been chosen First Team Capital One Academic All-District VIII for NCAA Division III in voting by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA). Dean was selected at quarterback, while Nelson was named to the team as a linebacker.

Dean owns a 3.66 cumulative grade point average and is majoring in Economics. Nelson, who also is working on a degree in Economics, has achieved a 3.78 GPA.

With First Team Academic All-District status, Dean and Nelson are eligible for the Capital One NCAA Division III Academic All-America Team, which will be released on December 3.

First Team Capital One Academic All-District

Josh Dean has completed 167 of 262 passes (63.7%) for a total of 2,153 yards and 25 touchdowns in 2013. He set a Willamette record with seven touchdown passes in the Bearcats 56-30 win at Lewis & Clark College on Oct. 19. In addition, he has carried the ball 101 times for 401 yards. He has achieved 2,554 yards of total offense this season.

He is ranked ninth in NCAA Division III in points responsible for per game with 21.5 points per contest. His 25 passing touchdowns rank him 10th in the nation and he is 20th overall with a 156.6 passing efficiency rating. He is ranked 24th with 269.1 passing yards per game.

Last year, Dean was chosen Second Team All-Northwest Conference after setting a group of school records by completing 273 of 422 passes for 3,345 yards and 34 touchdowns.

Dean's career totals, which are mostly from his two seasons as a starter, include 443 pass completions on 688 attempts (64.4%). He has thrown for 5,541 career yards and 59 touchdowns. He also has rushed for 696 yards, giving him 6,237 yards of total offense.

Jack Nelson leads the Bearcats with 102 total tackles this fall, including 58 unassisted stops. He has earned 6.5 tackles for loss and 1.5 quarterback sacks. He has intercepted one pass, broken up two passes, recovered two fumbles and forced a fumble. Nelson is ranked eighth in NCAA Division III with 12.8 total tackles per game and is 10th with 7.3 solo tackles per game.

In 2012, Nelson was chosen First Team All-NWC after topping Willamettes defensive chart with 72 tackles, including 45 solo tackles. He made 5.5 tackles for loss and 3.0 sacks, along with one interception, four pass break-ups and a forced fumble.

Nelson's overall statistics in three years at Willamette include 201 total tackles, 119 unassisted tackles and 82 assists. He has registered 13.0 tackles for losses and 5.0 quarterback sacks. He has earned two interceptions, six pass break-ups, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries.

CoSIDA District VIII

CoSIDA District VIII includes colleges and universities in the western United States. Athletes nominated for the Capital One Academic All-District Team were starters or key reserves with cumulative GPAs of 3.3 or higher (4.0 scale). Each athlete was at his current college or university for at least one academic year.