Story courtesy of Texas Lutheran University Sports Information
SEGUIN, Texas – Texas Lutheran senior offensive tackle Tyler Howlett picked up the university's 32nd Academic All-American honor when he was named Tuesday to the 2016 CoSIDA Academic All-America® Division III Football Team.
Howlett, an accounting major from Orange, Texas was named a Second Team Academic All-America® selection.
Howlett is the fifth Bulldog student-athlete in the last seven months to claim Academic All-America® honors. He is the third TLU football player in school history to receive the award – joining two-time selection Matt Alves (2006-07 and 2007-08) and two-time selection Allen Cain (2011-12 and 2012-13). Alves was a linebacker, and Cain was a place-kicker.
The third time on the national ballot was the charm for Howlett. He also advanced to the national voting process in 2014 and 2015 after claiming Academic All-District First Team for District 8 in those seasons.
Howlett became the first Bulldog football player to grab three consecutive Academic All-District First Team honors when was named to the Academic All-District First Team again this year to earn a third shot at Academic All-America® honors.
A two-time First Team All-Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference selection, Howlett was a 2016 American Football Coaches Association Good Works nominee. He helped TLU to the 2014 NCAA Division III playoffs and to three consecutive SCAC Championships.
The Bulldogs were 27-13 with Howlett on the team.
In 2014, Howlett was instrumental in paving the way for NCAA Division III leading rusher Maquis Barrolle, who rushed for 1,792 yards that season. Howlett blocked for Barrolle during four seasons and helped Barrolle to the TLU and SCAC all-time rushing record of 3,991 yards.
Howlett has been involved with community service projects at TLU as a volunteer with Day of the Dogs, Salvation Army, Lutheran World Relief, and National Reading Day. He is a member of the Delta Mu Delta honor society.
This is the sixth year of the expanded Academic All-America® program as CoSIDA moved from recognizing a University Division (Division I) and a College Division (all non-Division I) and has doubled the number of scholar-athletes honored. The expanded teams include NCAA Division I, NCAA Division II and NCAA Division III participants, while the College Division Academic All-America® Team combines NAIA, Canadian and two-year schools.
