Courtesy of LA Tech Athletic Communications
Four Louisiana Tech Football student-athletes earned Academic All-District honors from the College Sports Communicators as kicker Jacob Barnes, offensive lineman Abraham Delfin, tight end Ryan Rivera, and linebacker Zach Zimos earned the distinction the organization announced Tuesday.
The Bulldogs’ four selections are a program record eclipsing the previous mark of three in 2022 (Jacob Barnes, J’Dan Burnett, Parker McNeil). The four selections were tied with FIU for the most among CUSA programs.
The 2023 Academic All-District® Football teams, selected by College Sports Communicators (CSC), recognize the nation’s top student-athletes for their combined performances on the field and in the classroom. The CSC Academic All-America® program separately recognizes football honorees in four divisions — NCAA Division I, NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III, and NAIA.
A professional aviation graduate, Barnes is a back-to-back selection to the team. In addition to being a two-time CSC Academic All-District selection, the Baton Rouge product is a three-time CUSA Commissioner’s Honor Roll recipient (2023, 2022, 2020). He also made the Academic All-CUSA team this season. Barnes led the Bulldogs in scoring this season with 65 total points while connecting on 12 of his 15 field goal attempts. His 80 percent field goal percentage led all CUSA kickers. The Baton Rouge product finished his Tech career as the program’s all-time leader in career field goal percentage at 79.4 percent.
Delfin graduated with a bachelor’s degree in construction engineering and technology, a master’s in science and engineering technology, and a master’s in business administration. The academic all-district selection is the third in his career. He also earned the distinction in 2021 and 2020. The Plaquemine product became the only player to be named to the Academic All-CUSA for four consecutive years in CUSA history early this year. He is a six-time CUSA Academic Medalist (2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018), and six-time CUSA Commissioners Honor Roll selection (2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018). At the conclusion of the regular season, his 61 career games played were tied for the fourth-most in FBS history. He helped pave the way for seven 100+ yard rushing games in 2023 and played a role in 38 100+ rushing yard performances in his career.
Rivera succeeded in the classroom and on the field during his lone graduate season in Ruston. The Tracy, Calif. native posted a 4.0 GPA while pursuing his master’s of arts in counseling and guidance. Rivera started eight games while appearing in all 12 contests in 2023. He hauled in 13 receptions for 174 yards for an average of 13.4 yards a catch while helping pave the way for seven 100+ yard rushing games. According to Pro Football Focus he allowed just one pressure and no sacks in 40 pass-blocking snaps in 2023.
Zimos is currently pursuing his master’s in business administration. The Arkansas transfer appeared in all 12 games at linebacker while starting five in 2023. He registered 60 tackles, including 3.5 for loss and one sack. Zimos led Tech in tackles twice during the season with a game-high 14 tackles at Middle Tennessee and nine tackles at Nebraska.
All four were denoted as finalists and will advance to the CSC Academic All-America ballot. First- and second-team (if applicable) Academic All-America honorees will be announced in late January.
