Thursday, December 5, 2013
by San Diego Athletic Media Relations

San Diego seniors Robbie Beathard and Blake Oliaro have been named to the 2013 Capital One Academic All-America® Division I football first team as selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA).  The two Toreros are the only representatives from the Pioneer Football League on either team, and the only players on the first team from the state of California. The two academic teams are made up of players from across the nation at both the FCS and FBS level.

A senior accountancy major with a 3.78 G.P.A., Robbie Beathard was the team captain for the 8-3 Toreros this past season. A three-time first team Pioneer Football League All-Academic selection, the defensive back was named as USD Most Improved Defensive Player in 2012.  Beathard has been named to the Pioneer Football League honor roll three times. The San Diego native finished the season ranked fourth on the team in tackles (59).

A senior mechanical engineering major with a 3.50 G.P.A., defensive end Blake Oliaro of San Diego is a 2013 Campbell Trophy semifinalist and was named co-PFL Defender of Week on Oct. 14. A native of Folsom, Cal., he is a three-time PFL All-Academic first team selection and was an Associated Press FCS All-American in 2011 when he was named PFL Defender of Year. Oliaro has been named to the FCS ADA Academic All-Star Team three times. His 30 career sacks rank third all-time at USD.

To be eligible for Academic All-America® consideration, a student-athlete must be a varsity starter or key reserve, maintain a cumulative G.P.A. of 3.30 on a scale of 4.00, have reached sophomore athletic and academic standings at his/her current institution and be nominated by his/her sports information director. Since the program’s inception in 1952, CoSIDA has bestowed Academic All-America honors on more than 20,000 student-athletes in Divisions I, II, III and NAIA, covering all NCAA championship sports. 

Beathard and Oliaro are the first Torero football players to be named to this prestigious academic team since running back Evan Harney in 2004.