Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell's Pechin Finalist for STATS FCS Doris Robinson Scholar-Athlete Award
12/5/2018 11:58:00 AM | Football
LEWISBURG, Pa. – Bucknell's Alex Pechin was tabbed as a finalist for the STATS FCS Doris Robinson Scholar-Athlete Award for the second year in a row, the organization announced Wednesday.
Pechin, the fifth repeat Patriot League Scholar-Athlete of the Year in conference history and a three-time All-Patriot League First Team honoree, is among 13 finalists for this prestigious award, which is presented to an FCS student-athlete who excels not only in the classroom but in the community and beyond.
A senior Biomedical Engineering/Management for Engineers major, Pechin boasts a 3.93 grade point average. He has also excelled on the field; at the end of the 2018 regular season, he stood first in the FCS in punts (81) and punting yards (3,606) and fourth in punting average (44.5). The only punter in the FCS's top five with at least 65 punts, he broke the school record in punts while posting the second-best punting average in the Bison annals. Of his 81 punts, a career-best 29 sailed for at least 50 yards while 28 landed inside the 20.
This fall, Pechin conducted gene therapy research for a start-up company he worked at over the summer. As part of his intensive five-year dual degree program at Bucknell, he has completed multiple projects; his senior design project involves creating ultrasound simulation for surgical training. He is also a regular volunteer at Riverwoods, a senior living community in Lewisburg, and a football team peer tutor.
Pechin owns the school record in career punting average (43.7) and the program's top-three single-season averages of 45.1 (2017), 44.5 (2018) and 42.1 (2015); he also booted the third- (71) and fifth- (70) longest punts in school history over the course of the 2018 campaign. After capturing STATS Third Team All-America accolades in 2017, he was named to 2018 Preseason All-America First Teams by STATS, Phil Steele, Hero Sports, College Sports Madness and FreeAgentFootball.com.
One of Bucknell's most decorated players, Pechin is also a two-time Academic All-Patriot League honoree, a 2017 FCS ADA Academic All-Star Team selection and a 2017Â All-ECAC First Team member. In 2017, he broke his own school record with a 45.1 punting average, which ranked third in the FCS; of his 72 punts, a total tied for third in school history, 34 landed inside the 20 and 26 sailed at last 50 yards.
In its fourth year, the STATS FCS Doris Robinson Scholar-Athlete Award is named after the wife of legendary coach Grambling State coach Eddie Robinson. STATS will announce the winner on Monday, Dec. 10 and honor him at the FCS Awards Banquet and Presentation on Friday, Jan. 4 in Frisco, Texas on the eve of the national championship game.
