WEST LAFAYETTE – Purdue center Robert Kugler has been named second team CoSIDA Academic All-America. The prestigious recognition is the first for a Purdue football player since former linebacker Joe Holland garnered first team honors in 2011.

Kugler graduated last May with a 3.85 cumulative GPA and a double major in history and political science. He is enrolled in graduate school classes this fall.

A native of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, he was a mainstay on the offensive line during his career with 43 consecutive starts at center and was twice voted a captain by his teammates. Off the field, he was one of Purdue’s most productive players in the classroom. In addition to being a three-time CoSIDA Academic All-District V honoree, he has been named Academic All-Big Ten and a Big Ten Distinguished Scholar-Athlete each of the last three years. He was named to the Dean’s List (3.5-4.0 cumulative GPA) all eight semesters as an undergraduate student.

It was also announced on Tuesday that he will participate in the East/West Shrine Game to be held Jan. 23, 2016, at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida.

Academic All-Americans at Purdue
First Team
1956 – Len Dawson, QB
1960 – Jerry Beabout, T
1965 – Sal Ciampi, G
1967 – Jim Beirne, E and Lance Olssen, DT
1968 – Tim Foley, DB
1969 – Tim Foley, DB, Mike Phipps, QB and Bill Yanchar, DT
1973 – Bob Hoftiezer, DE
1979 – Ken Loushin, DL
1980 – Tim Seneff, DB
1981 – Tim Seneff, DB
1989 – Bruce Brineman, OL
2000 – Drew Brees, QB (Academic All-American of the Year)
2002 – John Standeford, WR
2003 – John Standeford, WR
2010 – Kyle Adams, TE
2011 – Joe Holland, LB

Second Team
1978 – Mark Johanson, LB, Ken Loushin, DL and Dale Schwan, OL
1988 – Donzell Leggett, DL
1999 – Drew Brees, QB
2000 – Gene Mruczkowski, OL
2001 – Travis Dorsch, K
2002 – Gene Mruczkowski, OL
2007 – Jared Armstrong, P
2009 – Ryan Kerrigan, DE
2010 – Joe Holland, LB
2015 – Robert Kugler, C