Football | 7/13/2021 2:01:00 PM
BLOOMSBURG, Pa. - Senior defensive lineman
Alex Findura (Stockbridge, Ga./Woodland) of the Bloomsburg University football team has been named to the 2020-21 Academic All-America® First Team as announced, and selected, by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA).
Based on the absence of most fall sports competition, the CoSIDA Academic All-America® Committee revised some rules and procedures for nominating student-athletes this season. Due to the low percentage of games completed this season, the nominees were selected based on career statistics and achievements.
On the field, Findura earned All-Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Eastern Division First Team accolades and Don Hansen All-Region Third Team honors in 2019 after enjoying a breakout season with the Huskies. He collected 57 tackles, including a team-leading 16.5 tackles for loss and a team-best 7.0 sacks. He also tied for the team lead with five pass breakups and added a team-high four quarterback hurries. Findura posted at least one tackle for a loss in nine games and had a career-best 12 tackles against Stonehill to open the year.
He was named the PSAC East Defensive Player of the Week on October 21 after helping the Huskies to a 22-17 road victory against East Stroudsburg. Findura finished with five tackles, 2.5 sacks, and 2.5 tackles for a loss on the afternoon. Findura also added a safety in the win - Bloomsburg's first safety since November 7, 2005.
Findura has 73 tackles in his career, with 22.0 tackles for a loss and 9.5 total sacks.
The senior became the first student-athlete from Bloomsburg to earn a spot on the Allstate American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Good Works Team® when he was chosen to be a member of the team in 2020. The honor, which was first established in 1992, recognizes 22 student-athletes - 11 from the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision and 11 from the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision, Divisions II, III, and the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics - and an honorary coach who exemplify tremendous leadership both on- and off-the-field. Findura has also been a two-time finalist for the Armed Forces Merit Award, presented each year by the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA).
Before his arrival to Bloomsburg, Findura served four years in the United States Marines and, during his service, was a member of an elite team known as the Body Bearers. The section's primary mission is to bear the caskets at funerals for Marines, former Marines, and Marine family members at Arlington National Cemetery and the surrounding cemeteries in the National Capital Region. On occasion, they are called to travel to locations around the country to support funerals for senior statesmen, heads of state, and former Presidents of the United States.
Findura, a business management major, boasts a cumulative grade point average of 3.59. He has been a four-time PSAC Scholar-Athlete and a two-time D2 ADA Scholar-Athlete.
It marks the first time Findura has earned the honor in his collegiate career and he becomes the first Huskies' football student-athlete to earn an Academic All-America® selection since 2008 when Jon Ochs earned First Team accolades. Findura is just the third football student-athlete to earn the award, joining Ochs in 2008 and Dave Pepper in 1983.
