Nov. 15, 2012
WACO, Texas - 17 Baylor football student-athletes earned academic all-Big 12 honors, the conference office announced Thursday. The Bears had 11 first-team selections and six on the second team.
The 17 selections are the most since 2006 when BU had 18 honorees.
First team members consist of those who have maintained a 3.20 or better GPA while the second team selections hold a 3.00 to 3.19 GPA. To qualify, student-athletes must maintain a 3.00 GPA or higher either cumulative or the two previous semesters and must have participated in 60 percent of their team's scheduled contests. Freshmen and transfers are not eligible in their first year of academic residence. Senior student-athletes who have participated for a minimum of two years and meet all the criteria except percent of participation are also eligible.
Offensive lineman Troy Baker (sophomore; finance), tight end Rhett Butler (sophomore; biology), offensive lineman Spencer Drango (freshman; entrepreneurship), quarterback Nick Florence (senior; MBA), wide receiver Clay Fuller (sophomore; business), offensive lineman Jake Jackson (senior; MBA), defensive end Kevin Park (senior; finance), quarterback Bryce Petty (sophomore; health science studies), tight end Jordan Najvar (junior; distribution management), tight end Matt Ritchey (sophomore; business) and linebacker Brody Trahan (junior; general studies) were named to the first team with GPAs of 3.20 or higher.
Jackson joined Joe Pawelek (2006-09) Ben Hixson (2005-08), Daniel Sepulveda (2003-06) and Kyle Atteberry (1996-1999) as the only Baylor student-athletes to be named to the first team in four consecutive seasons. Florence and Texas Tech's Seth Doege were the only two Big 12 quarterbacks to make the first team.
Offensive lineman Alex Bonilla (senior; exercise physiology), defensive lineman Trevor Clemons-Valdez (redshirt freshman; business), wide receiver Levi Norwood (sophomore; journalism), deep snapper Marcus Santa Cruz (senior; general studies), wide receiver Michael Valdez (senior, health science studies) and kicker Chris Winkler (senior; speech communications) earned second-team honors with GPAs ranging from 3.00 to 3.19.
Baylor (4-5, 1-5 Big 12) hosts No. 1 Kansas State (10-0, 7-0 Big 12) at 7 p.m. Saturday at Floyd Casey Stadium. The game will be televised live nationally on ESPN and tickets can be purchased online at www.BaylorBears.com/tickets, by calling 254-710-1000 or at the Baylor Athletic Ticket Office at the Ferrell Center.
BAYLOR'S 2012 ACADEMIC ALL-BIG 12 HONOREES (PREVIOUS AWARDS)
Troy Baker, first team
Rhett Butler, first team
Spencer Drango, first team
Nick Florence, first team (2009 first-team honoree)
Clay Fuller, first team
Jake Jackson, first team (2009, 2010 & 2011 first-team honoree)
Kevin Park, first team
Bryce Petty, first team
Jordan Najvar, first team (2011 first-team honoree)
Matt Ritchey, first team (2011 first-team honoree)
Brody Trahan, first team (2010 & 2011 second-team honoree)
Alex Bonilla, second team
Trevor Clemons-Valdez, second team
Levi Norwood, second team
Marcus Santa Cruz, second team
Michael Valdez, second team
Chris Winkler, second team
