Press release:
The University of Pittsburgh placed six student-athletes on the All-Atlantic Coast Conference Academic Football Team, it was announced by the ACC this afternoon.
Pitt’s 2018 All-ACC Academic Football Team honorees are graduate wide receiver Rafael Araujo-Lopes, graduate safety Dennis Briggs, redshirt freshman punterKirk Christodoulou, graduate offensive lineman Connor Dintino, senior running back Darrin Hall and sophomore center Jimmy Morrissey. Araujo-Lopes, Hall and Morrissey were each honored for the second consecutive year.
The Panthers’ six honorees rank fourth among the ACC’s 14 football schools. In Pat Narduzzi’s four seasons as head coach, Pitt has 26 All-ACC Academic Football Team honorees, the second-highest total among conference schools during that span.
To be eligible for consideration, a student-athlete must have earned at least a 3.00 grade point average for the previous semester and maintained a minimum 3.00 cumulative average during his academic career. Athletic achievements during the most recent season are also considered in selecting the team.
“On behalf of our entire program, I want to congratulate each of our six All-ACC Academic Football Team honorees,” Narduzzi said. “They were not only important contributors on the field, but also high achievers in the classroom as well. These six young men exemplify the best of the Pitt football experience and we take great pride in their accomplishments.”
Araujo-Lopes (Kissimmee, Fla./Winter Park/Reedley College) led the Panthers in receptions in each of the past two seasons. As a senior, he had an 86-yard punt return touchdown at UCF, the longest return by an ACC player in 2018 and the fifth-longest nationally. He earned his bachelor's degree in public service and is enrolled in Pitt's Graduate School of Public and International Affairs
Briggs (Wilkinsburg, Pa./Shady Side Academy) started all 14 games at strong safety and finished third on the team with 59 tackles. He was elected a Pitt captain by his teammates for the second consecutive year, making him the Panthers’ first multiple-time captain since Aaron Donald (2012-13). Briggs earned his bachelor's degree in finance and is enrolled in Pitt's Katz Graduate School of Business.
As a first-year starting specialist, Christodoulou (Melbourne, Australia/Balwyn) averaged 41.4 yards per punt. He boomed a 73-yarder at Miami, the Panthers’ longest punt since the 2004 season, and also had a 71-yarder at Wake Forest. Christodoulou is a finance major.
Dintino (Mashpee, Mass./Choate Rosemary Hall) received Honorable Mention All-ACC recognition as a senior after starting all 14 games on the Panthers’ offensive line. He displayed valuable versatility, making 11 starts at guard and the final three contests at center. Dintino earned his bachelor's degree in finance and marketing and is now enrolled in Pitt's Katz Graduate School of Business.
Hall (Youngstown, Ohio/Austintown Fitch) was an All-ACC tailback this past season, rushing for 1,144 yards and 10 touchdowns on 153 attempts. He averaged 7.48 yards per carry, breaking the 43-year-old Pitt record set by the legendary Tony Dorsett (6.6-yard rushing average in 1975; minimum 1,000-yards gained). Hall is a health and physical activity major.
Morrissey (Huntingdon Valley, Pa./La Salle College H.S.) earned All-ACC honors at center in 2018. He is the first Pitt player at that position to earn such distinction. Although his streak of 23 consecutive starts was halted due to a season-ending injury at Wake Forest (Nov. 17), Morrissey is expected to regain his status as one of the ACC’s top centers in 2019. He is a finance and marketing major.
The University of Pittsburgh placed six student-athletes on the All-Atlantic Coast Conference Academic Football Team, it was announced by the ACC this afternoon.
Pitt’s 2018 All-ACC Academic Football Team honorees are graduate wide receiver Rafael Araujo-Lopes, graduate safety Dennis Briggs, redshirt freshman punterKirk Christodoulou, graduate offensive lineman Connor Dintino, senior running back Darrin Hall and sophomore center Jimmy Morrissey. Araujo-Lopes, Hall and Morrissey were each honored for the second consecutive year.
The Panthers’ six honorees rank fourth among the ACC’s 14 football schools. In Pat Narduzzi’s four seasons as head coach, Pitt has 26 All-ACC Academic Football Team honorees, the second-highest total among conference schools during that span.
To be eligible for consideration, a student-athlete must have earned at least a 3.00 grade point average for the previous semester and maintained a minimum 3.00 cumulative average during his academic career. Athletic achievements during the most recent season are also considered in selecting the team.
“On behalf of our entire program, I want to congratulate each of our six All-ACC Academic Football Team honorees,” Narduzzi said. “They were not only important contributors on the field, but also high achievers in the classroom as well. These six young men exemplify the best of the Pitt football experience and we take great pride in their accomplishments.”
Araujo-Lopes (Kissimmee, Fla./Winter Park/Reedley College) led the Panthers in receptions in each of the past two seasons. As a senior, he had an 86-yard punt return touchdown at UCF, the longest return by an ACC player in 2018 and the fifth-longest nationally. He earned his bachelor's degree in public service and is enrolled in Pitt's Graduate School of Public and International Affairs
Briggs (Wilkinsburg, Pa./Shady Side Academy) started all 14 games at strong safety and finished third on the team with 59 tackles. He was elected a Pitt captain by his teammates for the second consecutive year, making him the Panthers’ first multiple-time captain since Aaron Donald (2012-13). Briggs earned his bachelor's degree in finance and is enrolled in Pitt's Katz Graduate School of Business.
As a first-year starting specialist, Christodoulou (Melbourne, Australia/Balwyn) averaged 41.4 yards per punt. He boomed a 73-yarder at Miami, the Panthers’ longest punt since the 2004 season, and also had a 71-yarder at Wake Forest. Christodoulou is a finance major.
Dintino (Mashpee, Mass./Choate Rosemary Hall) received Honorable Mention All-ACC recognition as a senior after starting all 14 games on the Panthers’ offensive line. He displayed valuable versatility, making 11 starts at guard and the final three contests at center. Dintino earned his bachelor's degree in finance and marketing and is now enrolled in Pitt's Katz Graduate School of Business.
Hall (Youngstown, Ohio/Austintown Fitch) was an All-ACC tailback this past season, rushing for 1,144 yards and 10 touchdowns on 153 attempts. He averaged 7.48 yards per carry, breaking the 43-year-old Pitt record set by the legendary Tony Dorsett (6.6-yard rushing average in 1975; minimum 1,000-yards gained). Hall is a health and physical activity major.
Morrissey (Huntingdon Valley, Pa./La Salle College H.S.) earned All-ACC honors at center in 2018. He is the first Pitt player at that position to earn such distinction. Although his streak of 23 consecutive starts was halted due to a season-ending injury at Wake Forest (Nov. 17), Morrissey is expected to regain his status as one of the ACC’s top centers in 2019. He is a finance and marketing major.
