The Penn State football team put together another solid academic performance during the Fall 2013 semester, with nearly 50 squad members earning at least a 3.0 grade-point average, according to Penn State. The total includes three student athletes with a perfect 4.0 GPA.

A total of 48 Nittany Lions earned a 3.0 GPA or higher, the fourth-highest Fall total in program history, trailing only the record 55 honorees in 2008, 50 (2004) and 49 (2009). Among the 48 Nittany Lions posting a 3.0 GPA or higher, 13 earned Dean’s List recognition by earning a 3.5 GPA or higher this past semester.

Senior guard John Urschel posted a perfect 4.0 GPA last fall to complete his Penn State career with a 4.0 GPA in all his undergraduate and graduate studies.

Among the other returning Nittany Lions who made the Dean’s List last fall were: safety Jesse Della Valle, placekicker Sam Ficken, wide receiver Gregg Garrity, linebacker Ben Kline, tackle Andrew Nelson and fullback Dom Salamone.

Penn State football student-athletes who enrolled in the University from 2003-06 earned an NCAA Graduation Success Rate of 85 percent, according to the 2013 NCAA Graduation Rate Report. Penn State’s GSR was among the top 10 percent in the nation, tied with Rutgers and TCU for No. 12 overall among the 124 Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) institutions. The Nittany Lions’ football graduation rate was tied for No. 2 among all public FBS schools, trailing only Boise State. GSR rates are not yet available for the two years of head coach Bill O’Brien’s tenure.

A total of 332 Penn State football student-athletes have earned Academic All-Big Ten honors since 1993 for owning at least a 3.0 grade point average and being a letterwinner. The Nittany Lions had 24 honorees last fall.