Senior quarterback Clay Garcia was named one of 16 finalists for the William V. Campbell Trophy, the most prestigious academic award in college football, on October 26, 2011. As one of the finalists for the National Scholar-Athlete award, he received an $18,000 postgraduate scholarship from the National Football Foundation, and attended the NFF Awards Banquet on December 6. Continuing the list of honors, Garcia was named the NCAA Division II Football Academic All-American of the Year and a First Team Academic All-American by Capital One/CoSIDA for the second straight season on December 7.

Currently a graduate student studying material mechanics, Garcia graduated summa cum laude last spring with a 3.91 grade point average in mechanical engineering. He was a regional finalist for the Harlon Hill Trophy this season, after being a finalist for the top Division II Football Athletic Award last year.