Boston College Athletics
Murphy, Kavalec Earn All-ACC Academic Honors
February 11, 2015 | Football
Chestnut Hill, Mass. - Two members of the Boston College football team - recent graduate Tyler Murphy and sophomore Kevin Kavalec - earned 2014 All-Atlantic Coast Conference Academic Football Team honors, the league announced on Wednesday.
To be eligible for consideration for the team, a student-athlete must have earned a 3.00 grade point average for the previous semester and maintained a 3.00 cumulative average during his academic career. All 14 ACC schools were represented by at least two selections on the team. The ACC has selected an All-ACC Academic Football team every year since 1954.
Murphy, who completed his master's degree in administrate studies from the Woods School of Advancing Studies in December, set the ACC single-season record for rushing yards by a quarterback (1,184) and led all signal callers nationally. He also surpassed Eagle great Doug Flutie (939 yards) for BC's career record for quarterback rushing yards, completing the feat in nine games with 965 yards. Murphy was named the Walter Camp Connecticut Player of the Year and to the New England Writers' All-New England Team.
The Wethersfield, Conn., native transferred to Boston College in the spring of 2014 after earning his undergraduate degree from the University of Florida, where he played three seasons for the Gators.
Defensive end Kavalec started all 13 games for the Eagles and tallied 40 tackles, including 31 solo stops. He finished second on the defense with 10.5 tackles for a loss of 35 yards and was third with 3.5 sacks for a loss of 19 yards. He earned ACC Defensive Lineman of the Week on Oct. 27 for his play in the win at Wake Forest. He registered a career-high 10 tackles, including eight unassisted, in the 23-17 win. He recorded two sacks for a loss of 14 yards and 4.5 of his 10 tackles were for a loss.
The Middleburg Heights, Ohio, native is an economics major in the College of Arts and Sciences. He is also taking pre-med requirements.
In all, 65 student-athletes were honored with the distinction. Duke's David Helton was named the winner of the ACC's Jim Tatum Award, given to the league's top scholar-athlete. For the complete 2014 All-ACC Academic Team, click here.
