Elon Football Trio Garners Academic All-District Honors

ELON, N.C. – For the first time in its tenure as an FCS program, the Elon University football team has had three players selected to the CoSIDA Academic All-District 3 Team. Collecting the distinction this year are senior defensive lineman Nick Groll, junior running back Malcolm Summers and sophomore tight end Matt Foster.
Full Academic All-District Teams

For Groll, this is his third consecutive honor, while Summers and Foster collected the accolade for the first time. Groll is the first Elon player to earn three consecutive Academic All-District honors since A.J. Harris did so from 2009-11.

Groll, who hails from Armonk, N.Y., carries a 3.72 GPA as an economics major and is pursuing minors in communications and music technology. He has made the Dean’s List four times and has twice appeared on the President’s List. Groll, who intends to go to law school, was a member of the CAA Football Academic All-Conference Team in both 2015 and 2016. On the field, he has made 17 total tackles in 10 games. Among those stops are 4.0 tackles for loss and 3.0 sacks. He has recovered one fumble on the year and blocked a potential game-winning field goal to help the Phoenix knock off No. 16 Charleston Southern.

Summers, a native of Mebane, N.C., sports a 3.41 GPA as a marketing management major. The two-time CAA Football Academic All-Conference Team member has also earned Dean’s List recognition during his career. Summers appeared in just six games before an injury ended his season, but he ran for 755 yards and four touchdowns on 134 carries. At the time of his injury, Summers led FCS in rushing. His 755 rushing yards are the eighth-most by an Elon player since the program moved to the Division I level for the 1999 season. Summers was named the CAA Football Offensive Player of the Week after rushing for 294 yards, tied for the second most in program history and the 10th most in league history, in a victory at No. 6 Richmond. He posted three straight performances with at least 171 rushing yards, all in wins over ranked opponents.

Foster, who is from Williamsville, N.Y., has a 3.57 GPA as a physics major. Last season he was named to the CAA Football Academic All-Conference Team. In 10 games, Foster has caught 15 passes for 188 yards and one touchdown. Against No. 6 Richmond, he caught two passes for 25 yards and a touchdown as the Phoenix earned a three-point victory. Foster has caught a pass in eight of 10 games and has two or more receptions in seven outings.

The trio is now eligible to earn Academic All-American accolades. To be eligible for Academic All-District honors, a player must compete in at least 50 percent of the team’s contests, must have reached at least sophomore athletic eligibility, have completed at least one full calendar year at the institution and carry at least a 3.30 GPA.