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TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – DeMeco Ryans, the most decorated student-athlete in The University of Alabama’s football history, may soon depart his home state, but he’ll be keeping an eye on his hometown from high in the sky.

A billboard lauding Ryans, a Bessemer native, for his combined academic-athletic accomplishments will peer down on I-65 motorists as they drive near the Fourth Avenue South exit in Birmingham, beginning this week. The billboard reads “Go DeMECO! DeMeco Ryans NCAA Top VIII Academic Award” and depicts the crimson-clad, number 35 racing to make a tackle.

Ryans, who recently graduated cum laude, in just seven semesters, with a management degree from UA, was presented with the Top VIII Award in January. The award, the NCAA’s highest undergraduate honor, recognizes outstanding achievement in athletics, scholarship and community service. It is given each year to only eight student-athletes nationwide.

“DeMeco Ryans is the nation’s ultimate student-athlete achieving at the highest level on and off the field,” said UA President Robert E. Witt. “We pay tribute to DeMeco for his outstanding academic accomplishments, his great character, and his exemplary contributions to our university and our state.”

Ryans, the 2006 Cotton Bowl’s defensive MVP, also won this year’s Lott Trophy, symbolic of the nation’s top defensive player and based on personal character as well as athletic performance. He was a finalist for the Draddy Award, widely considered the “Academic Heisman.” A four-time recipient of the Black Scholars Award, Ryans is an Arthur Ashe Sports Scholar and a recipient of the Bryant Award, symbolic as the UA Athletic Department’s top student-athlete.

Ryans was one of 14 Crimson Tide student-athletes competing in the Cotton Bowl who had already earned their degrees. The consensus All-American linebacker is listed by Scouts Inc. as a top 20 prospect for the National Football League draft set for April 29-30.

“DeMeco Ryans is a wonderful ambassador for the University, and he represents hundreds of Alabama student athletes highly committed to excellence in all endeavors,” said Jon Dever, director of Alabama’s Center of Athletic Student Services, housed in the Paul W. Bryant Academic Center, a state of the art academic center benefiting more than 425 Crimson Tide student-athletes.

The University Athletics Department will celebrate academic achievement this week as part of the Friday, Feb. 17 gymnastics meet with Arkansas. “We had 195 student athletes earn a spot on the University’s Athletics Honor Roll this fall and we want to salute them all,” Dever said.