More honors are being awarded to the Texas Longhorns entering 2024.
Longhorns kicker Bert Auburn and offensive lineman Jake Majors were named to the 2023 Academic All-America Second Team on Tuesday, as selected by the College Sports Communicators.
A first-team All-Big 12 selection by the league’s coaches and the Associate Press from Flower Mound, Texas, Auburn has played in 28 games during his three seasons on the Austin, connecting on 50-of-61 field goals (82 percent) and all 114 of his extra-point attempts. His career field goal percentage is the fourth-best in program history, while his 294 points scored rank ninth in Longhorn history and are the seventh-most among UT kickers.
In 2023, Auburn was successful on 29-of-35 field goals (82.9 percent), establishing Texas single-season records for field goals made and attempted, including a streak of 19-straight successful attempts that set UT and Big 12 records. For the season, Auburn scored 143 points, the third-most in program history and a record for Texas kickers.
Auburn's best game came against Texas Tech in the season finale where he equaled the Texas record with five field goals made while setting a single-game record for a Longhorns' kicker with 21 points scored.
Majors, a Joe Moore Award semifinalist, has appeared in 42 career games with 41 starts over three seasons on the Forty Acres. Last season, he played in and started all 14 games at center for the Longhorns with an offensive line that blocked for Doak Walker Award semifinalist Jonathon Brooks and Davey O’Brien Award semifinalist Quinn Ewers.
Major was essential in the run game, opening holes for running backs Brooks, CJ Baxter and Jaydon Blue. The trio combined for over 2,000 rushing yards and 18 touchdowns while averaging 5,2 yards per run.
Texas ranked ninth nationally in total offense (477.5 ypg) and 15th in scoring offense (35.8 ppg), while averaging 289.1 yards per game passing (17th/FBS) and 188.4 yards per game on the ground (24th/FBS).
With the selection of Auburn and Majors, Texas has had three players earn Academic All-American accolades over the last two years, with the duo joining EDGE Ovie Oghoufo, who earned second-team honors in 2022. It marks the first time Texas has had an Academic All-American in back-to-back seasons since 2009-10 and the first time with multiple honorees in the same year since 2009.
Auburn and Majors are the 26th and 27th Longhorns to be named to the Academic first or second team and bring Texas’ total to 36 Academic All-America honors in program history.
The Longhorns open the 2024 season at home against Colorado State on Aug. 31.
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