10 Wins and Bowl Winners, Oklahoma State Football Aces in Academics Too

(This story originated with the Big 12 Conference and with Oklahoma State University athletic media relations and was written by Sean Maguire. Pokes Report publisher Robert Allen contributed to the story.)

STILLWATER – Oklahoma State football is well-represented on the 2023 Academic All-Big 12 Team that was announced Wednesday, as the Cowboys lead all conference football teams with five student-athletes honored with a 4.0 grade point average.

Those five are part of 29 Cowboys included on the Academic All-Big 12 First Team, which ties for the third-most of any football team in the conference. OSU’s six additional second team selections bring the total number honored to 35 football players, which ties for the fifth-most in this year’s 14-team conference.

Robert Allen - Pokes Report

Mike Gundy has preached academics and Leon Johnson III was a post scholarship award winner this season.

I’ve always been proud of Oklahoma State football in this regard. I know that these young men’s families are very proud. Oklahoma State has done well and improved tremendously in academics during the Mike Gundy era. 

Including this season, the nine highest totals for first-team Academic All-Big 12 selections in OSU football history have come in the past nine years, as OSU had 13 in 2015, 12 in 2016, 20 in 2017, 13 in 2018, 16 in 2019, 28 in 2020, 28 in 2021, 29 in 2022 and 29 in 2023.

Pat Kinnison - Chief Photographer

Jake Schultz (38) blocking was a 4.0 this semester.

Alex Hale, Jake Schultz, Peyton Thompson, Logan Ward and Zeke Zaragoza make up the five Cowboys honored with a 4.0 grade point average. With only 24 total Big 12 football players registering a perfect GPA, more than a fifth of them attend Oklahoma State. It is the second time that Hale (2022), Ward (2022) and Schultz (2020) have been honored with a 4.0 GPA.

Several Cowboys received recognition for multiple times in their careers, highlighted by Hale and Braden Cassity who are now five-time selections. They are the third and fourth five-time academic all-conference football team members in OSU history after taking advantage of an extra year of eligibility due to the NCAA ruling surrounding COVID-19. Hale, who was also named a 2023 CSC Academic All-America first team selection in January, earned first-team honors all five seasons from 2019-23, while Cassity was a first team honoree in 2019, 2020, 2022 and 2023 and second team honoree in 2021.

Bruce Waterfield/Jerod Hill/OSU Athletics

Preston Wilson (71) and Jake Springfield (61) are both four-time first-team All-Academic.

Jake Schultz, Jake Springfield and Preston Wilson were named to the first team for a fourth-straight season and are now the 15th, 16th and 17th OSU players to earn four first-team honors. Joe Michalski also received his fourth-straight recognition after he was included on the first team this year and in 2021 and 2022 and the second team in 2020. His recognition combined with the other three gives OSU 21 four-time academic all-conference football players in program history.

Cale Cabbiness, Brennan Presley and Jordan Reagan were named to the first team for a third-consecutive year.

OSU's two-time first-team honorees include Jaden Bray, Gunnar Gundy, Aden Kelley, Parker Robertson, Logan Ward and Zeke Zaragoza, who have been named two years straight, as well as Jeff Roberson, who was honored in 2021 and this year. Constantino Borrelli Raymond Gay II also received their second career honors after being named to the first team in 2022 and the second team this year. Taylor Miterko was a second team member in 2020 and a first-team member this year, while Cole Birmingham was a second team member in 2021 and this year.

First time honorees include first team members Gabe Brown, Collin Clay, Chance Clements, Blaine Green, Isreal Isuman-Hundley, Austin Kawecki, Garrick Martin, Luke McEndoo, Garret Rangel, Xavier Ross, Talyn Shettron and Peyton Thompson, as well as second team members De’kelvion Beamon, Jason Brooks Jr. and Quinton Stewart.

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 20 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.

The complete list of Cowboys on the 2023 Academic All-Big 12 teams: