Photo by: Erika Cruz
Thomas Named SLC Football Student-Athlete of the Year, Five Jacks Receive Academic Honors
1/16/2026 11:15:00 AM | Football
Thomas joined by Jake Henry, Nicholas Perez, Carlos Alvarado & Clayton Wayland
FRISCO, Texas – Stephen F. Austin outgoing graduate defensive lineman Ky Thomas was named the Southland Conference Football Student-Athlete of the Year in an announcement by the league on Friday, January 16. In addition to Thomas' superlative honor, four other Lumberjacks joined the Elkhart, Texas, native on the league's All-Academic team.
A 2025 Southland Conference first team selection, Thomas was SFA's honoree for the 2025 William V. Campbell Trophy, college football's academic Heisman, and a finalist for the Doris Robinson Award: a Scholar-Athlete award honoring FCS student-athletes exemplifying excellence on the field, in the classroom and across the community. Thomas graduated Cum Laude in May 2023 with Business Administration and Management degree and carries a 3.56 GPA, while pursuing his MBA.
Thomas led the SLC with 5.5 sacks (.69 per game) in conference play and he was the only SLC player with double-digit TFL in league play (10.5; 1.31 per game). For the entire regular season, Thomas ranked third in the SLC in sacks per game (0.50) and fifth in tackles for loss per game (1.05). In 13 games, the Texan registered 15.0 TFL, 14 QBH and two pass break ups for an SFA defense that boasted multiple top five rankings nationally including FCS-best tackles for loss production and the nation's fifth-best total defense.
Student-Athlete of the Year nominees must hold at least a 3.5 GPA and have completed in one semester of athletic competition at the nominating institution. Members of the All-Academic team are nominated by their institution based on athletic performance and must hold at least a 3.25 GPA and have completed in one semester of athletic competition at the nominating institution.
2025 SLC FOOTBALL ALL-ACADEMIC TEAM
*Ky Thomas
Jake Henry
Nicholas Perez
Carlos Alvarado
Clayton Wayland
*Co Student-Athlete of the Year
FOLLOW THE LUMBERJACKS
For all the latest information on SFA football, visit SFAjacks.com. For up-to-the-minute updates, follow the Lumberjacks on X, Instagram and Facebook.
A 2025 Southland Conference first team selection, Thomas was SFA's honoree for the 2025 William V. Campbell Trophy, college football's academic Heisman, and a finalist for the Doris Robinson Award: a Scholar-Athlete award honoring FCS student-athletes exemplifying excellence on the field, in the classroom and across the community. Thomas graduated Cum Laude in May 2023 with Business Administration and Management degree and carries a 3.56 GPA, while pursuing his MBA.
Thomas led the SLC with 5.5 sacks (.69 per game) in conference play and he was the only SLC player with double-digit TFL in league play (10.5; 1.31 per game). For the entire regular season, Thomas ranked third in the SLC in sacks per game (0.50) and fifth in tackles for loss per game (1.05). In 13 games, the Texan registered 15.0 TFL, 14 QBH and two pass break ups for an SFA defense that boasted multiple top five rankings nationally including FCS-best tackles for loss production and the nation's fifth-best total defense.
Student-Athlete of the Year nominees must hold at least a 3.5 GPA and have completed in one semester of athletic competition at the nominating institution. Members of the All-Academic team are nominated by their institution based on athletic performance and must hold at least a 3.25 GPA and have completed in one semester of athletic competition at the nominating institution.
2025 SLC FOOTBALL ALL-ACADEMIC TEAM
*Ky Thomas
Jake Henry
Nicholas Perez
Carlos Alvarado
Clayton Wayland
*Co Student-Athlete of the Year
FOLLOW THE LUMBERJACKS
For all the latest information on SFA football, visit SFAjacks.com. For up-to-the-minute updates, follow the Lumberjacks on X, Instagram and Facebook.
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