ORLANDO – The College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) announced the 2020-21 Academic All-District® teams for football this week, and UCF's Derek Gainous was among the first-team honorees for District 4, which includes teams from Florida, Georgia, Alabama, and South Carolina.
CoSIDA's Academic All-District® teams recognize the nation's top student-athletes for their combined performances on the field and in the classroom. First-team honorees advance to the CoSIDA Academic All-America® ballot.
Gainous was one of just four defensive backs honored in District 4 and just 32 Division I defensive back across the nation.
The Miami native currently holds a 3.64 cumulative GPA as a criminal justice major, with all honorees needing at least a 3.30 cumulative GPA.
Gainous started four games and played in nine of 10 contests last season, finishing fourth on the team with 46 total tackles. He added one break-up, one forced fumble, and an interception as a junior in 2020.
He becomes the 21st UCF football player to earn Academic All-District® honors and the first since Caleb Houston and Luke Adams in 2015. The last UCF Academic All-America® honoree was Lyle Dankenbring in 2012.