The Big Ten, the nation's oldest collegiate conference, commemorates the 101st anniversary of a very unique tradition - the Big Ten Medal of Honor. The conference's most exclusive award was the first of its kind in intercollegiate athletics to recognize academic and athletic excellence.
The Big Ten Medal of Honor was first awarded in 1915 to one student from the graduating class of each university who had "attained the greatest proficiency in athletics and scholastic work." Big Ten schools currently feature almost 9,500 students participating in intercollegiate athletics, but only 28 earn this prestigious award on an annual basis. In the 100 years of the Medal of Honor, almost 1,400 students have earned this distinction.
On the field, Sadler was a master of his craft and one of the greatest and most productive punters in program history. In the classroom, he achieved an ever rarer feat, becoming the first student-athlete at Michigan State to earn Academic All-America honors four times.
Sadler, a two-time first-team All-Big Ten selection (2012, 2013), finished his career ranked among MSU's all-time leaders in punts (second with 268), punting yards (second with 11,307) and punting average (sixth at 42.2). A valuable weapon on special teams, he placed 39 percent of his career punts inside the 20 (104-of-268) and 21 percent inside the 10 (56-of-268).
Sadler earned first-team Academic All-America honors in 2013 and 2014 and second-team accolades in 2011 and 2012. In addition to becoming MSU's first-ever four-time honoree, he also is just the third Spartan (Dean Altobelli, 1985-86; Steve Wasylk, 1992-93) and 34th Big Ten football player to earn first-team Academic All-America honors twice.
A member of the 2014 National Football Foundation Scholar-Athlete Class, Sadler was one of 17 finalists for the William V. Campbell Trophy, which is given to the nation's top scholar-athlete.
A native of Grand Rapids, Mich., Sadler graduated with a bachelor's degree in applied engineering sciences in May 2013 with a 3.97 grade point average. He received his master's degree in public policy in May 2015 with a 3.84 graduate GPA.
Sadler also was a four-time Academic All-Big Ten selection (2011-14) and two-time Big Ten Distinguished Scholar (2012-13). He was presented the scholar-athlete award at the Spartan Academic Excellence Gala three consecutive years (2013-15) for having the highest GPA on the team for players who have reached at least junior academic status.
Sadler earned All-America status on the field during MSU's Big Ten and Rose Bowl Championship season in 2013, as he was named a first-team All-American by CBSSports.com and ESPN.com. Sadler ranked fourth in the Big Ten in punting with his 42.5 yard average and led the NCAA with 24 punts downed inside the 10 and ranked tied for second with 33 inside the 20. An honorable mention All-Big Ten selection in 2014, he ranked seventh in the Big Ten in punting with his 41.2 yard average.
Sadler becomes the 21st football player at MSU to win the Big Ten Conference Medal of Honor and the third under Dantonio, joining Kirk Cousins in 2012 and Blair White in 2010.
The Big Ten Medal of Honor was first awarded in 1915 to one student from the graduating class of each university who had "attained the greatest proficiency in athletics and scholastic work." Big Ten schools currently feature almost 9,500 students participating in intercollegiate athletics, but only 28 earn this prestigious award on an annual basis. In the 100 years of the Medal of Honor, almost 1,400 students have earned this distinction.
On the field, Sadler was a master of his craft and one of the greatest and most productive punters in program history. In the classroom, he achieved an ever rarer feat, becoming the first student-athlete at Michigan State to earn Academic All-America honors four times.
Sadler, a two-time first-team All-Big Ten selection (2012, 2013), finished his career ranked among MSU's all-time leaders in punts (second with 268), punting yards (second with 11,307) and punting average (sixth at 42.2). A valuable weapon on special teams, he placed 39 percent of his career punts inside the 20 (104-of-268) and 21 percent inside the 10 (56-of-268).
Sadler earned first-team Academic All-America honors in 2013 and 2014 and second-team accolades in 2011 and 2012. In addition to becoming MSU's first-ever four-time honoree, he also is just the third Spartan (Dean Altobelli, 1985-86; Steve Wasylk, 1992-93) and 34th Big Ten football player to earn first-team Academic All-America honors twice.
A member of the 2014 National Football Foundation Scholar-Athlete Class, Sadler was one of 17 finalists for the William V. Campbell Trophy, which is given to the nation's top scholar-athlete.
A native of Grand Rapids, Mich., Sadler graduated with a bachelor's degree in applied engineering sciences in May 2013 with a 3.97 grade point average. He received his master's degree in public policy in May 2015 with a 3.84 graduate GPA.
Sadler also was a four-time Academic All-Big Ten selection (2011-14) and two-time Big Ten Distinguished Scholar (2012-13). He was presented the scholar-athlete award at the Spartan Academic Excellence Gala three consecutive years (2013-15) for having the highest GPA on the team for players who have reached at least junior academic status.
Sadler earned All-America status on the field during MSU's Big Ten and Rose Bowl Championship season in 2013, as he was named a first-team All-American by CBSSports.com and ESPN.com. Sadler ranked fourth in the Big Ten in punting with his 42.5 yard average and led the NCAA with 24 punts downed inside the 10 and ranked tied for second with 33 inside the 20. An honorable mention All-Big Ten selection in 2014, he ranked seventh in the Big Ten in punting with his 41.2 yard average.
Sadler becomes the 21st football player at MSU to win the Big Ten Conference Medal of Honor and the third under Dantonio, joining Kirk Cousins in 2012 and Blair White in 2010.
