Three Poets receive SCIAC All-Academic Team Honors

Photo by: Tony Leon/ActionWestPhotography.com

LOS ANGELES – Three Poets were among a group of 40 student-athletes who were honored earlier this week as members of the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference All-Academic Team.

To be eligible, a student-athlete must have at least a 3.40 cumulative grade point average at his current institution, must have completed one full calendar year at his current institution, must have reached sophomore athletic eligibility, and must have started in at least one game during the current football season.

Senior defensive back Travis Driskell, senior tight end Richard Hoover, and junior running back Rufus Osby each met the minimal requirements and represented the Whittier football team for their achievements both in the classroom and on the field.    

Driskell is now a four -time honoree on the All-Academic Team having earned the recognition during his freshman, sophomore, and junior campaigns. This season, the San Jose, Calif. native, collected 1st Team All-SCIAC Honors on defense and was second on the Poet squad in tackles with 88, which included 46 solo and 42 assisted.  He also collected 11 tackles for losses for a total of 30 yards and forced two fumbles while knocking down five passes.

Hoover, who comes to Whittier from Redondo Beach, Calif. made the SCIAC All-Academic Team in 2008 and finished this season with 10 receptions for 113 yards and one touchdown.  He was also used as an extra blocker for an offense that ranked second in the conference in passing with 2090 points and a 232.4 passing yards per game average.   

Osby, a junior transfer from Solano Community College hails from Merced, Calif. and finished his first season with the Poets playing in nine games rushing for 194 yards and two touchdowns averaging 21.6 ypg.  Out of the backfield Osby also hauled in 5 receptions for 49 yards and one touchdown.