NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Four Vanderbilt football players were named Academic All-District on Tuesday afternoon. Ethan Barr, Jack Barton, Ben Cox and Tommy Eckels all earned the recognition from College Sports Communicators.
The four selections give Vanderbilt 26 all-time Academic All-District selections. The recognition presented by CSC (formerly CoSIDA), advances all four to the ballot for Academic All-America honors. To be named Academic All-District, student-athletes must possess a 3.5 cumulative grade-point average and be a starter or significant contributor to their team, playing in at least 50 percent of games.
Barr currently boasts a 3.602 GPA, majoring in Human and Organizational Development at the Peabody College. The Flower Mound, Texas, native is a two-time Dean’s List member. Last year, Barr led all SEC linebackers with three interceptions. This season, Barr ranks seventh on the team in tackles after ranking second on the team a season ago. He’s twice posted double-figure tackles in a game.
Barton has a 3.831 GPA as a double major in Human and Organizational Development and Economics. He has earned Dean’s List recognition on four occasions. The junior from Dallas has played in every game this season as a major contributor on special teams. He recovered a fumble earlier this season at Missouri.
Cox has recorded a 3.754 GPA while majoring in Medicine, Health and Society in the College of Arts and Science. The Radford, Virginia, native has made the Dean’s List four times. The offensive lineman has played in 10 games during his junior season and on 240 snaps has been flagged for just one penalty without allowing a single sack or QB hit.
Eckels sports a 3.750 GPA with a major in Human and Organizational Development. The Kansas City, Missouri, native is a four-time Dean’s List selection. Like Barton, he has played in every game on the season, mostly as a leader on special teams. He’s made seven tackles this season and for his career has now played in over 25 games.
Barr, Barton, Cox and Eckels are the first Academic All-District selections for Vanderbilt since 2020. The four mark the first time in program history Vanderbilt has placed more than two football players on the Academic All-District team. The four selections were second-most in the Southeastern Conference.
All four now advance to the Academic All-America vote by CSC, which opens Dec. 6.
