Four Cowboys Named Academic All-District

ABILENE, Texas - Four Hardin-Simmons Cowboy football players -- Ryan Hunter, Joe Bob Ratliff, ZaVious Robbins and Matt Warnasch -- have been named to the ESPN The Magazine/CoSIDA College Division All-Academic Team in a vote by the sports information directors in the district.

Hunter and Robbins lead one of the top offensive units in the country. Robbins has 36 receptions for 601 yards and seven touchdowns and has returned 12 kickoffs for 28 yards average with a touchdown. Hunter is the center of an offensive line that has not allowed a sack in the last three games and the Cowboys are averaging 5.4 yards per rush on the season.

Warnasch and Ratliff are both starters on defense and Warnasch leads the team with 92 tackles from his weak safety position. Ratliff has 37 tackles as a defensive lineman. The defense is allowing only 17.8 points per game after giving up 42 points per game last season.

HSU's four selections were the most by any team in the district.  All four will go on the national ballot to be considered for All-American honors.

The college division all-district VI team is made up of players from NCAA Division II, III, NAIA and Junior College from Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas. The all-district selections go on the ballot for all-American honors. Players must have a 3.30 GPA and have played a key role on the team.