Bo Nix and Bucky Irving are officially First-Team Academic All-Americans. While many Duck fans have simply been waiting for the honors to arrive, Irving and Nix have officially been crowned among the elite athletes of the year.
Nix and Iriving were a dynamic duo on the field. Irving rushed for a team-leading 1,180 yards and 11 touchdowns. He also earned 413 receiving yards and had two touchdown receptions.
Almost everyone knows Nix’s stats on the field at this point. However, many forget that their beloved quarterback was also the 2023 Pac-12 Football Scholar-Athlete of the Year along with winning the William V. Campbell Trophy.
Before joining the Ducks, Nix finished his undergraduate degree at Auburn University, maintaining a 3.62 GPA and graduating magna cum laude – translating to ‘with great distinction.’
Not to one-up his quarterback but Irving completed his undergraduate degree in family and human services with a 3.63 GPA.
Nix did however complete his post-graduate schooling with an overall GPA of 3.91, pretty impressive for a guy that throws footballs in his free time.
Next level.@OregonFootball's @BoNix10 & @BuckyIrving have been named First-Team Academic All-Americans. #GoDucks pic.twitter.com/Yg6KU9r3Li
— GoDucks (@GoDucks) January 23, 2024
These two athletes were more than just players on the field, they were students as well. And as hard as it can be for collegians to find a balance between the two aspects of life, this duo did it flawlessly.
Nix and Irving are the third-ever pair of Oregon teammates to receive this honor in the same season. They are the first duo to earn the honor since Joey Harrington and Ryan Schmid in 2001.
More Oregon Ducks news
Defensive back Evan Williams has received and accepted his invitation to partake in the 2024 Reese’s Senior Bowl.
OFFICIAL! DB Evan Williams @evan_williams32 from @oregonfootball has accepted his invitation to the 2024 Reese's Senior Bowl! #GoDucks#TheDraftStartsInMOBILE™️@JimNagy_SB @PaniniAmerica #RatedRookie pic.twitter.com/0KwwixVZCN
— Reese's Senior Bowl (@seniorbowl) January 23, 2024
Williams became the fifth Duck to accept their invite to play in the game. He will be joining Nix, Jackson Powers-Johnson, Khyree Jackson, and Brandon Dorlus.
During the 2023 season, Williams had 82 total tackles, 2 fumble recoveries, and one forced fumble. He has a career total of 214 solo tackles and 101 assisted tackles. The DB declared for the NFL Draft on January 14th.
More college sports news
Jim Harbaugh may be inching closer to a contract with the Los Angeles Chargers to be their next head coach.
NEWS: Jim Harbaugh and the Chargers are in striking distance of getting a deal done, per report.
— On3 (@On3sports) January 23, 2024
Harbaugh could be bringing Michigan DC Jesse Minter and his son Jay to Los Angeles as well, according to @AaronWilson_NFL👀 https://t.co/1LyFjRVRsr pic.twitter.com/bPQD9zEoPu
Following the Michigan Wolverines’ dominant performance in the National Championship game, talk of Harbaugh heading back to the NFL spread like wildfire.
For the past few weeks, the Atlanta Falcons and the Chargers have announced that they were in talks with Harbaugh and his team to discuss the possibility of him becoming their new head coach.
Harbaugh has spent nine years at Michigan but had previously held positions as the Oakland Raiders’ quarterbacks coach and the San Francisco 49ers’ head coach.