ASU's Nixon named a candidate for Lowe's Senior CLASS Award


Arizona State University senior linebacker Mike Nixon has been named a candidate for the Lowe's Senior CLASS Award. The award is presented to a NCAA Division I Football Subdivision senior with notable achievements in four areas of excellence: classroom, character, community and competition.

In addition to the Lowe's Senior CLASS Award, Nixon (Phoenix, Ariz.) has also been nominated for the 2009 Allstate/AFCA Good Works Team and the 2009 Lott Trophy Watch List. He has also been named to Lindy's 2009 Pacific-10 Preseason All-Conference Team and was recently named one of the team's captains.

Nixon volunteers as a student-athlete mentor at Harris Elementary School in Mesa, organizing activities and games for the children and meeting with them on a weekly basis. In addition, Nixon is on ASU's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, and he was recognized as a Sun Devil Star for his community involvement, participation and leadership as an ASU student-athlete.

On the field, Nixon has played in all 38 games over the last three seasons, leading the Sun Devils in 2008 with 90 tackles and five interceptions. His five interceptions tied for the Pac-10 lead. Academically, he is a stellar student and has also been a Pac-10 First-Team All-Academic selection and an ESPN The Magazine First-Team Academic All-District VIII honoree each of the last two seasons.