TUCSON, Ariz. – The University of Arizona football program placed eight student-athletes on the Pac-12 All-Academic teams, announced Tuesday afternoon by the conference office.
Headlining the selections for the Wildcats was sophomore defensive back Carter Hehr, who was a first team honoree. Senior running back Jared Baker and junior linebacker Jake Matthews garnered second team recognition, while Cam Denson, Tony Ellison, Alex King, Abraham Mendivil and Casey Skowron collected honorable mention accolades.
Hehr, a backup defensive back and key special teams contributor, earned his first team honor with a 3.91 grade point average as a marketing major. A native of Fontana, Wisc., Hehr totaled 18 tackles while playing in all 12 games during the regular season.
Baker, a co-starter in the offensive backfield, boasts a 3.31 GPA with a major in sustainable built environments. The Los Angeles native finished the regular season third on the team with 691 rushing yards and six touchdowns. He added 11 receptions for 101 yards and one score.
Matthews, a starting linebacker, carries a 3.39 GPA as a pre-neuroscience and cognitive sciences major. Over 11 games played, the Tucson, Ariz., product tallied 47 tackles, including 2.0 for loss and 1.5 sacks. He also recovered one fumble.
Arizona’s honorable mention honorees range across a variety of academic backgrounds. Denson, a cornerback, has a 3.05 GPA as an undeclared major. Ellison, a receiver and special teams ace, holds a 3.08 GPA in pre-business. King, a linebacker and special teams contributor, boasts a 3.47 GPA as a biology major. Mendivil, a receiver and special teams starter, carries a 3.20 GPA as a general studies major. Skowron, the starting place kicker, is a 3.38 GPA as a psychology and computer science major.
The Wildcats have concluded their regular season with a 6-6 record and are bowl eligible for the fourth-straight season. Arizona’s postseason fate will not be determined until Sunday, Dec. 6, with the official bowl announcements.
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