Nov. 22, 2005

Baylor placed a school-record eight student-athletes on the 2005 Academic All-Big 12 Conference first team, the league office announced Tuesday. In all, the Bears had 14 student-athletes earn academic all-conference honors as another six were named second team, tying the school record for total honorees established in 2001.

Linebacker Colin Allred (Sr., Dallas, Texas), quarterback Shawn Bell (Jr., China Spring, Texas), wide receiver Lee Chandler (Sr., Plano, Texas), linebacker Ben Hixson (RS-Fr., Southlake, Texas), outside safety Jake La Mar (RS-Fr., Bedford, Texas), outside safety Jon Piorkowski (RS-Fr., Lake St. Louis, Mo.), punter Daniel Sepulveda (Jr., Dallas, Texas) and running back Phil Tran (Sr., Houston, Texas) earned first-team honors.

Sepulveda joins Jason Lary (1998-00), John Martin (2001-02, 04), Andrew Obriotti (1998-00) and his brother Stephen Sepulveda as Baylor's only three-time first-team Academic All-Big 12 honorees. Kyle Atteberry (1996-99) is the only Bear to earn first-team honors four times, something Sepulveda will have an opportunity to match next season.

Tight end Jordan Adams (So., Arlington, Texas), punter Josh DeSisto (Sr., Long Beach, Calif.), free safety Bennett Hoefer (So., Woodway, Texas), wide receiver Ryan Jeffrey (Sr., Lorena, Texas), tight end Mike Miller (So., Lake Charles, La.) and cornerback Alton Widemon (So., Lindale, Texas) earned second-team honors.

Student-athletes must participate in at least 60 percent of his team's games and maintain at least a 3.0 cumulative GPA in order to earn academic all-conference honors. First-team members must maintain at least a 3.2 cumulative GPA. Seniors are exempt from the participation rule, and first-year players (both true freshmen and first-year transfers) are not eligible.

Baylor earned seven first-team Academic All-Big 12 honors in 1999 and six in 1998. Since the league's inception in 1996, 46 Bears have earned first-team honors.