Per GoBearcats:
Cincinnati senior quarterback Desmond Ridder and senior wide receiver Alec Pierce were named First Team Academic All-Americans by CoSIDA on Wednesday, marking just the fifth and sixth Bearcats to earn the prestigious honor in school history and the first since 1997.
The duo was joined by junior offensive lineman Lorenz Metz and senior safety Bryan Cook, who were selected as Second Team Academic All-Americans by CoSIDA.
Cincinnati’s four honorees were the most of any team in the country and mark the first time the Bearcats have had more than one Academic All-American in school history.
“What a credit this is to these outstanding young men, who are leaders for us on the field and in the classroom,” Cincinnati head coach Luke Fickell said. “They truly embody what it means to be a student-athlete and I couldn’t be prouder as their head coach. Our Student Athlete Support Services (SASS) team here at the University of Cincinnati is the best in the country at preparing our students for life after football and giving them all of the tools and resources needed to earn a degree.”
Since Fickell arrived in 2017, Cincinnati football has a 100% graduation rate for players that stay at least four years.
The Academic All-America awards were voted on by sports information directors from across the country. Players eligible for the honor had to be selected to their respective Academic All-District teams, have at least a 3.3 GPA and be a major contributor to their teams on the field.
The 2020-21 Academic All-America Teams recognize the nation’s top student-athletes for their combined performances on the field or court and in the classroom.
Ridder is the third-winningest quarterback in college football history (44 wins) and the school record holder in touchdowns (87). This season, he has totaled 36 touchdowns to lead Cincinnati to its first-ever 13-0 record and College Football Playoff appearance. He earned his bachelor’s degree in sports administration in 2020. The two-time AAC Offensive Player of the Year is a two-time Academic All-District selection.
Pierce earned his degree in mechanical engineering last week, completing it in three-and-half years. A second-team All-AAC pick, he leads Cincinnati in receptions (50), receiving yards (867) and touchdown catches (eight).
Metz, who earned his degree in industrial management last week, has started eight games at left guard this season and has 21 starts in his career. He has helped pave the way and protect an offense that ranks ninth in the country in scoring (38.8 ppg).
Cook, a digital media collaborative major, has been a force at safety this season, earning All-AAC First Team accolades, while tallying 87 tackles, 5.0 TFLs and 10 passes defended.
CINCINNATI FOOTBALL’S ALL-TIME ACADEMIC ALL-AMERICANS
1979 – G Edward Koboves (Second Team)
1981 – OT Kari Yli-Ranko (First Team)
1983 – WR Jason Stargell (Second Team)
1989 – P Jeff Jones (Second Team)
1990 – DL Kyle Stroh (First Team)
1991 – TE Kris Bjorson (First Team)
1997 – DL John Joseph Kobalka (First Team)
2020 – P James Smith (Second Team)
2021 – QB Desmond Ridder (First Team)
2021 – WR Alec Pierce (First Team)
2021 – OL Lorenz Metz (Second Team)
2021 – S Bryan Cook (Second Team)
