Football: Huval Repeats On Capital One Academic All-District Team

Brian McCann, Sports Information Director, November 11, 2013

LAFAYETTE, La. — Ragin’ Cajuns senior center Andre Huval, who owns a 3.44 cumulative grade point average majoring in business accounting, is a repeat selection to the 2013 Capital One Academic All-District team, which is selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America.  The teams were announced late last week.

"Andre is the epitome of what this award stands for and I am happy to see him selected to the team for the second straight year.," Louisiana head coach Mark Hudspeth said.  "We ask all of our players to put as much effort into their performance in the classroom as they do on the field, and Andre has been successful at both.  His leadership ability on the offensive line has been a key factor in our success and his academic accomplishments set an example for the rest of the team."

A 6-1, 285-pound junior from Scott, La., Huval continues to maintain a leadership role on a veteran offensive line, playing almost every offensive snap in the first nine games.  For the second year in a row, Huval was named to the preseason watch list for the Rimington Award, which goes to the nation’s top center.

In nine games, Huval has helped the Ragin’ Cajuns offense lead the Sun Belt and rank 18th nationally in rushing (223.0 ypg), 19th in scoring (38.2 ppg) and 15th in passing efficiency (155.2).  Louisiana will carry a seven-game win streak into Saturday’s game at Georgia State and the Cajuns have won eight straight league games going back to last season.

Huval broke into the starting lineup in 2011, adeptly making the transition from guard to center.  He led all Ragin’ Cajuns offensive linemen by playing 925 of the 936 offensive snaps during the year, including every down in 11 of Louisiana’s 13 games, and finishing third on the squad with 19 knock down blocks.  He was named the team’s recipient of the Awardmasters Academic Excellence Award.

In 2012, Huval earned second team All-Sun Belt honors after starting all 13 games and playing all but 12 snaps offensively.  The Cajuns set the school records for both points scored (461) and total offense (5,914), going 9-4 and winning the New Orleans Bowl for the second straight year.

A graduate of St. Thomas More High, Huval played a key role in the Cajuns becoming just the second team in school history to accumulate over 5,000 yards of total offense in a season as quarterback Blaine Gautier set single season records for passing yards (2,958), touchdowns (23), completion percentage (.628), passing efficiency (153.60) and total offense (3,444).

District VI consists of all NCAA FBS and FCS schools in the states of Arkansas, Iowa, Louisiana, Minnesota, Missouri, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wisconsin.

Huval is now eligible for Capital One Academic All-America honors, which will be announced on Dec. 5.