Marian University Wide Receiver John Pfifer Named NAIA Scholar-Athlete

INDIANAPOLIS, IN (12/21/2010)(readMedia)-- Marian University senior wide receiver and punt returner John Pfifer was lauded as a Daktronics-NAIA Scholar-Athlete, the national office announced on Friday.

Pfifer is a senior from Greenwood, Indiana, who attended Greenwood High School where he was an Academic All-State selection and earned All-County and All-Conference nods. He also set his high school record for 43 receptions in his senior year. At Marian University, he is a business management major. He earned the national honor after a stellar academic career at Marian University as well as a stellar career on the gridiron. He is one of 231 student-athletes across the NAIA to be awarded the honor.

Pfifer, one of the original 48 recruits that started the program, is the all-time leading punt returner for the Knights with 47 career punt returns and 336 career punt return yards. He also has garnered 23 receptions for 254 yards and four touchdowns in his career.

He is the first Marian University football player to earn the Scholar-Athlete honor, which is awarded to student-athletes who have attained junior standing and have a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher during their academic careers.

Pfifer and the Knights had a record-setting season in 2010 after the Knights earned their first-ever 10-win season (10-3), their first-ever playoff berth and playoff win and their first top 15 ranking.

About Marian University

Marian University (www.marian.edu) is the only Catholic liberal arts university in central Indiana. It is a private, co-educational school offering classes to both traditional and non-traditional students. Located two miles northwest of downtown Indianapolis, Marian University is a Catholic university dedicated to excellent teaching and learning in the Franciscan and liberal arts traditions. It is one of Indiana's 31 independent colleges, and one of 244 Catholic colleges and universities in the United States. On July 1, 2009, Marian College became Marian University. On January 15, 2010, Marian University announced it would develop the first college of osteopathic medicine in the state of Indiana.