Southwestern University Pirates football senior T.J. Vela was named to the American Southwest Conference (ASC) Fall Distinguished Scholar-Athlete Team.
This season, Vela was named to the All-ASC Second Team Offense after helping carry the Pirates through an injury-plagued season. Vela returned from a season-ending injury suffered in the 2018 season to help the 2019 Pirates finish third in rushing with 227.7 yards per game.
Vela finished with a 4.0 GPA as a Business major. In his collegiate career, he was named to the Southwestern Dean's List in the fall of 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 and the spring of 2018 and 2019. He also earned the Director of Athletics Academic Excellence Award in his first year, sophomore, and junior years at Southwestern University.
Brian Baca of East Texas Baptist University was named the ASC Football Distinguished Scholar-Athlete of the Year. Other members of the ASC Football Distinguished Scholar-Athlete Team include:
|
Name |
University |
Cl. |
Major |
GPA |
Hometown |
|
Brian Baca * |
East Texas Baptist |
Gr. |
History |
4.00 |
Pittsburg, Texas |
|
Bo Robertson |
Belhaven |
So. |
Biology |
3.81 |
Houlka, Miss. |
|
Juan Martinez |
Hardin-Simmons |
Sr. |
Criminal Justice |
3.87 |
Donna, Texas |
|
Brady Wade |
Howard Payne |
Jr. |
Kinesiology |
3.88 |
Little Elm, Texas |
|
Wade Simmons |
Louisiana College |
Jr. |
Mathematics |
4.00 |
Baton Rogue, La. |
|
Steven Sellers |
Mary Hardin-Baylor |
Jr. |
Management |
4.00 |
Murphy, Texas |
|
Juan Ramirez |
McMurry |
Jr. |
Sociology |
4.00 |
Roma, Texas |
|
Southwestern |
Sr. |
Business |
4.00 |
Odem, Texas |
|
|
Keyton Castro |
Sul Ross State |
So. |
Criminal Justice |
3.77 |
Three Rivers, Texas |
|
Manny Longoria |
Texas Lutheran |
Sr. |
Education (Mathematics) |
3.73 |
Geronimo, Texas |