BOWLING GREEN, Ky. — Recognized for success on and off the field, WKU Football punter John Haggerty III and defensive end Juwuan Jones have earned 2021 Academic All-District II Team honors, the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) announced. The Hilltoppers are only 1-of-5 Conference USA programs to have multiple representatives on the All-District Teams.
Jones – who was also CoSIDA Academic All-District in 2019 – becomes the first Hilltopper football student-athlete to be recognized twice since defensive back Mark Santoro in 2009 and 2010. Haggerty is the first WKU specialist to be recognized since kicker Peter Martinez in 2002.
District II consists of all FBS and FCS Division I programs in Kentucky, Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Washington D.C. and West Virginia. Nominees must be a starter or significant contributor to the team while carrying at least a 3.3 grade point average, and Haggerty and Jones certainly fit that bill.
Haggerty’s first two seasons playing American football have been the two best punting seasons in WKU’s 102-season program history. The Sydney, Australia, native averaged 45.9 yards on 45 punts in 2019, then followed it up with an average of 45.7 yards on 56 punts in 2019. Of his 101 total boots, 37 have been 50-plus yards and 37 have been inside the opponent’s 20 yard line, while only six have gone for touchbacks.
In the classroom, Haggerty has a perfect 4.0 GPA in his Organizational Leadership graduate program. He has been on WKU’s President’s List all five semesters and earned the C-USA Academic Medal in each of the past two years.
Jones, meanwhile, has been a consistent impact player for the Hilltoppers after redshirting the 2017 campaign to make the switch from high school linebacker to collegiate defensive end. Over the past three seasons, the Sugar Hill, Ga., native has played in all 37 games while starting 32 games – including 28 consecutively. He has racked up 135 total tackles – including 23.5 for loss – and 14 sacks, along with 19 quarterback hurries.
In the classroom, Jones earned a bachelor’s degree in Sport Management in only three years – graduating with a 3.75 GPA – and is currently working on a master’s degree in Teaching with a focus in Special Education. He was voted to the 2020 C-USA All-Academic Team.
With All-District honors, Haggerty and Jones are eligible for the All-America ballot, which will be announced this summer. WKU has not had a football student-athlete named a CoSIDA Academic All-American since defensive back Brian Lowder in 2002.How to Follow the Hilltoppers: For complete information on WKU Hilltopper Football, follow the program via social media @WKUFootball on Twitter and Facebook.
