Philadelphia, Pa. - Lincoln University sophomore safety Deion Miller (Sayreville, N.J./Jersey Coast Academy) has been named to the 2016 Philadelphia Inquirer Academic All-Area Football Team.   Miller, a criminal justice major, was one of 24 student-athletes selected to the Philadelphia Inquirer Academic All-Area Football Team. The team is voted on by the sports information offices of 30 institutions from the Philadelphia metropolitan area.
 
Miller is the second student-athlete from Lincoln to earn Academic all-Area honors for the Fall 2016 season, joining women's soccer player Cleo Spear   He is also the third football player and the first since Kyle Jaski in 2012 to earn academic all-area honors
 
A standout defensive player for the Lions in 2016, Miller earned Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association all-conference honors as a second team selection.  He led the CIAA in solo tackles with 63 and ranked fourth amongst the league's defensive players with 82 total tackles. 

Twice during the season, Miller recorded 11 solo tackles in a single game, including the Lions contest against Division I FCS opponent Morehead State University on September 27.  He also notched 11 solo tackles and a career-high 14 total tackles against Elizabeth City State University October 15.
Academically, Miller earned the Athletic Director's Scholar Athlete Award in 2015-16, finishing the year with a 3.50 cumulative grade point average. He has also earned Dean's list honors as a freshman.   
 
Nine different schools were represented on the Philadelphia Inquirer Academic All-Area Team, with the University of Pennsylvania leading the way with six honorees; Justin Watson (who was also voted in as 2016 Performer of the Year), Nick Demes, Jimmy Gammill, Nathan Kirchmeier, Louis Vecchio, and Nick Whitton. Rowan had three players selected, including Ryan Brenner, Will Flake and Kevin Stokes. Villanova was represented by Ryan Bell, Kpassagnon and Rob Rolle, while West Chester's honorees included Jarel Elder, Doug Gilbert and Kyle Keyser. Widener also had three selections, with Vince Char, Steve Gozur and Casey Kerschner all making the team. Aric Boyes and Nick Wright were chosen from Delaware Valley, while Brendan McGowan and Nick Sharga represented Temple. Ursinus, with Tim Rafter had one selection along with Lincoln with Miller.
  
The Philadelphia Academic All-Area Teams were established in 2005 by the Philadelphia Area Sports Information Directors Association (Philly-SIDA) as an additional avenue to promote the academic achievements of the area student-athletes in all divisions. The academic all-area teams are published in the Philadelphia Inquirer three times each year (fall, winter and spring).