DALLAS — UTSA's Lucas Dean, Hunter Duplessis and Ahofitu Maka have been named to the Conference USA All-Academic Team, the league office announced on Thursday.
UTSA's three selections are the most of any league institution on the 11-man squad and it gives the Roadrunners 10 all-time honorees since joining C-USA in 2013. Additionally, Duplessis, the 2020-21 C-USA Scholar Athlete of the Year, has landed on the team for the second straight season.
All three Roadrunners also were voted to the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) Academic All-District® VII First Team last month.
Dean boasts a 3.9 GPA as an economics major. A native of Dunsborough, Australia, he is a two-time Conference USA Academic Medal recipient and a three-time UTSA President's List honoree for a 4.0 semester GPA, and he has landed on the C-USA Commissioner's Honor Roll twice.
On the field, Dean earned second-team All-America and C-USA Special Teams Player of the Year accolades in 2020 after shattering the school's single-season punting average record with a 46.0 mark. This season, he has averaged 45.6 yards on 41 punts with 18 pinning opponents inside the 20-yard line. A Ray Guy Award watch list member, he has 10 punts of 50-plus yards including a school-record 73-yarder in the 34-31 win over UAB on Nov. 20.
Duplessis carries a 4.0 GPA as an MBA student focusing on technology management after graduating in May 2020 with a 3.78 GPA as a double major in cyber security and information systems. The 2020-21 C-USA Football Scholar Athlete of the Year and C-USA All-Academic Team selection is a five-time C-USA Commissioner's Honor Roll member, a four-time UTSA President's List honoree and a C-USA Academic Medal recipient.
An honorable mention All-American and first-team all-conference performer in 2020, Duplessis has developed into one of the most dependable kickers in C-USA. A three-time C-USA Special Teams Player of the Week honoree, he has set UTSA record with 23 field goals and 53 extra points this season. The San Antonio Cole High School graduate has drilled three field goals in a game four times and has connected from a career-long distance of 51 yards in wins over UTEP and UAB. He also kicked the game-winning 42-yard field goal in the 31-28 comeback win over Memphis.
Maka totes a 3.74 GPA as a cyber security major. A two-time UTSA President's List selection, he has received the C-USA Academic Medal and is a two-time C-USA Commissioner's Honor Roll listee after transferring to UTSA from Independence Community College prior to the 2019 season.
One of the leaders on the UTSA offensive line, Maka earned second-team all-conference accolades in 2020 after helping pave the way for All-America running back Sincere McCormick and an offense that set school records for rushing yards (2,585), rushing yards per game (215.4), yards per rush (5.21) and rushing touchdowns (24). This season, the Honolulu, Hawai'i, native has started all 12 contests at center for an offense that is averaging 36.9 points and 433.5 yards per game and has produced a second straight 1,000-yard season for running back Sincere McCormick. He has allowed just one sack and three hits on the quarterback in 731 snaps this year according to Pro Football Focus.
2021 All-Academic Team
Chris Reynolds, Charlotte, RS Sr., QB, 3.275, MS in Finance & Development
*Matt Hayball, Florida Atlantic, RS Jr., P, 3.92, Finance
*Abraham Delfin, Louisiana Tech, Jr., OL, 4.00, Master of Science Engineering & Technology
Reed Blankenship, Middle Tennessee, Sr., S, 3.28, MBA
Jordan Young, Old Dominion, RS Sr., LB, 3.63, Sport Management Master's
Trey Schuman, Rice, RS Jr., DL, 4.00, MBA
Hayes Maples, Southern Miss, RS So., LB, 3.706, Business Administration
*Hunter Duplessis, UTSA, Gr., K, 4.00, MBA (Technology Management)
Lucas Dean, UTSA, Jr., P, 3.9, Economics
Ahofitu Maka, UTSA, Sr., OL, 3.74, Cyber Security
*Juwuan Jones, WKU, RS Jr., DE, 4.00, Special Education
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