Marlon Walls Garners FCS ADA Academic All-Star Accolades
1/6/2017 12:00:00 AM | Football
CLEVELAND, Ohio – Stephen F. Austin’s Marlon Walls continues to add to his growing resume of accolades, being named to the 19th annual Football Championship Subdivision Athletic Directors Association (FCS ADA) Academic All-Star team.
The honor comes on the heels of Walls being named a CoSIDA first team Academic All-American in December, becoming the first football player in SFA history to receive the honor. In addition, Walls was a nominee for the 2016 AFCA Good Works Team as well as being named the SFA physics department’s Brian Patrick Hanson Memorial Scholarship award recipient.
2017 FCS ADA Academic All-Star List 
Walls was a constant in the Lumberjack defensive secondary in 2016, playing in all 11 games with 10 starts at the nickel back position. The Pearland native put together his best season in an SFA uniform, ranking third on the team with 62 total tackles and leading the Lumberjacks with 37 solo stops. Walls also registered a pair of tackles for loss, three pass breakups and a forced fumble.
Getting set to enter his senior season in 2017, Walls has played in 35 games at SFA with 14 starts. Playing both defensively and on special teams for the Lumberjacks, he has tallied 90 tackles, including 58 solo tackles, with 3.5 tackles for loss and six pass breakups. Walls has also been responsible for four turnovers during his SFA career, registering a pair of interceptions while forcing a pair of fumbles.
Walls was one of 44 players honored with the recognition, becoming the first Lumberjack recipient since offensive lineman Ryne Chamber in 2014. He becomes the fourth SFA player to earn the national honor, joining Chambers, punter Drew Nelson (2011 and 2012) and kicker Cory Long (2008).
Boasting a 4.00 GPA in engineering physics with a minor in mathematics, Walls is one of three Southland Conference players on the list, joined by Central Arkansas offensive lineman John Cook and Incarnate Word offensive lineman Trevor Mason. Additionally, he is one of just four players among the 44-player list with a perfect 4.00 GPA.
Football players from all Football Championship Subdivision institutions are eligible for the award. Each of the nominees were required to have a minimum grade point average of 3.20 (on a 4.00 scale) in undergraduate study and have been a starter or key player with legitimate athletics credentials. He must have reached his second year of athletics and academic standing at the nominated institution and have completed a minimum of one full academic year at the nominated institution. He must also have participated in 50 percent of the games played at his designated position.
Stephen F. Austin FCS ADA Academic All-Star Recipients
2017: Marlon Walls, DB
2014: Ryne Chambers, OL
2012: Drew Nelson, P
2011: Drew Nelson, P
2008: Cory Long, K
-SFA-
