JONATHAN WEBSTER AND ZACH HALL NAMED ESPN THE MAGAZINE ACADEMIC ALL-DISTRICT FOOTBALL SELECTIONS

        RUSSELLVILLE, Arkansas – Arkansas Tech seniors Jonathan Webster and Zach Hall has been named to the 2007 ESPN the Magazine Academic All-District VI College Division Football team by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA).

Webster was named a First-Team selection for the second consecutive season, while Hall was named a Second-Team selection. It is the first time Tech has had two selections in the same year since former Wonder Boys Jonathan Hayes and Mark Ewersmann were selected in 2004.

Webster, a defensive back from Batesville, Miss., and Hall, a linebacker from Irving, Texas, were two of 13 Gulf South Conference players represented on the two District VI College Division teams. Joining Webster on the All-District first team from GSC schools was Harding tight end Jonathan Paulson, Harding defensive back Jordan Huckeba, Delta State’s Michael Eubanks and Henderson State defensive lineman Benton Watson. Hall was joined on the All-District second team by Delta State punter Spencer Strickland, Harding receiver Julian Firman, Southern Arkansas Johnny Fields, Harding offensive lineman Jeff Walker, Henderson State offensive lineman Kale Gober, Delta State’s defensive lineman Tim Johnson and Delta State defensive lineman David Allen.

In order to be eligible for the Academic All-America honors, a student-athlete must have at least 3.20 cumulative grade point average (on a 4.0 scale), must be a starter or an important reserve and be in at least their second season of athletic and academic eligibility at their current school.

Webster, who carries 3.26 cumulative grade point average in sociology, played in all 10 games and made eight starts this season for the Wonder Boys and was second on the team with 79 tackles, including recording a team-best 39 solo stops and had 1.5 tackles for loss, broke up two passes and had one interception. In addition, he forced a fumble and also had a fumble recovery. Webster, who finished his Tech career playing in 20 games and making 12 starts, recorded 126 career tackles, including 62 solo stops and had three tackles for loss, seven pass break-ups and picked off two passes.

Hall, who carries a 3.24 cumulative grade point average in speech communications, played in nine games this season with the Wonder Boys and recorded nine tackles, a tackle for a loss, a quarterback sack and recovered a fumble. In his three year career with the Wonder Boys, Hall saw action in 12 games and made six starts and recorded 52 tackles, including 24 solo stops, had 6.5 tackles for loss, two fumble recoveries and two sacks.   

This past season, Webster and Hall helped lead Tech to a 5-5 overall record and a 3-5 mark in the GSC.

Webster and Hall become Tech’s 28th and 29th all-time CoSIDA Academic All-District VI football selections. Webster is now eligible for Academic All-American honors after being a first-team All-District selection.

CoSIDA members in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas were responsible for the voting. 

 -- Tech Athletics --