The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Dallas Griffin, Lokey named to ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America first team
11.29.2007 | Football
AUSTIN, Texas -- Seniors C Dallas Griffin and DT Derek Lokey have been named to the 2007 ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America first team, the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) announced Thursday.
Griffin and Lokey become the 24th and 25th Longhorns all-time to earn first-team honors, which ranks fifth in the nation. They also make Texas one of three schools to place multiple players on this year's team, joining Iowa and San Diego, which also had two.
The announcement follows Texas having 23 players named to the 2007 Academic All-Big 12 Football Team, leading the Big 12 for the second straight season. The Longhorns had 16 first-team honorees, which were more than any other school in the conference had in its combined first- and second-team selections with the exception of Texas Tech, which totaled 16.
Griffin was named one of 15 finalists (eight from Football Bowl Subdivision schools) for the Draddy Trophy, which recognizes an individual as the absolute best in the country for his combined academic success, football performance and exemplary community leadership. He will be honored at the National Football Foundation Awards Dinner in New York on Dec. 4 when the winner will be announced.
Earlier this year, Griffin was named to the preseason Playboy All-America team as the Anson Mount Scholar/Athlete, which has honored the nation's premiere student-athlete in football since 1987.
During his career at UT, Griffin has been a four-time first-team Academic All-Big 12 selection and has posted a perfect 4.0 GPA six times. He graduated with a double major in honors business and finance in the spring of 2007 and has started coursework in UT's prestigious Red McCombs MBA Program this fall. On the field, Griffin was a member of the Outland Trophy watch list and started the first 10 games of the season at center before suffering a season-ending injury. However, he has been a key member of an offensive line that has blocked for 462.0 total yards (14th NCAA) and 199.8 rushing yards (23rd NCAA) in 2007.
Lokey, who has a 3.5 GPA as a sports management major, is a three-time Academic All-Big 12 selection and a three-time member of UT's Athletics Director's Honor Roll. He will graduate in three-and-a-half years this December and posted a 4.0 GPA this past spring. He took the LSAT exam for law school over the summer.
This season, Lokey has anchored a defense that ranks 10th in the nation against the run, allowing only 99.3 yards per game. Also a member of the Nagurski and Lott Trophy watch lists, he has notched 46 tackles, eight TFL, a sack and 12 pressures this season. For his career, he has posted 97 tackles, 17 TFL, three sacks, 29 pressures, three PBD and a fumble recovery in 42 games (20 starts).
Prior to being named All-America, Griffin and Lokey had earned All-District 6 honors along with K Ryan Bailey. Bailey is a four-time member of UT's Athletics Director's Honor Roll and Dean's List with a 3.25 GPA as an advertising major.
The Longhorns had four other players nominated for Academic All-District honors in LB Scott Derry, QB Colt McCoy, RB Chris Ogbonnaya and OT Adam Ulatoski. Derry is enrolled in the nation's top-ranked professional program for accounting, a five-year program to earn both a B.A. and Master's degrees in the McCombs School of Business. He has a 3.33 GPA and is a two-time first-team Academic All-Big 12 honoree and seven-time member of UT's Athletics Director's Honor Roll. McCoy is a two-time member of UT's Athletics Director's Honor Roll and has a 3.4 GPA, Ogbonnaya is a two-time first-team Academic All-Big 12 honoree and a four-time member of UT's Athletics Director's Honor Roll with a 3.21 GPA and Ulatoski is a first-team Academic All-Big 12 performer and a five-time member of UT's Athletics Director's Honor Roll with a 3.4 GPA.
To be nominated, a student-athlete must have been a starter or important reserve with at least a 3.20 cumulative grade point average (on a 4.0 scale) for his career. No athlete is eligible until he has reached sophomore athletic and academic standing.
