BATON ROUGE, La. – The Cox Communications Academic Center for Student-Athletes honored six student-athletes for their academic achievements and community service for the month of February.
Each month, five student-athletes are recognized for their academic improvement, dedication and proven ability. In addition, one student-athlete is chosen through LSU’s Student-Athlete Affairs program for their volunteerism and commitment to the community.
February’s student-athletes of the month are Jamal Adams [Football], Danny Etling [Football], Jalea Jackson [Track and Field], Ann Jones [Women’s Basketball] and Ethan Pocic [Football]. Caley Oquist [Swimming and Diving] was selected as the Shaquille O’Neal Life Skills Program Student-Athlete of the Month.
Adams, Oquist and Pocic are sport administration majors, Etling is a mass communication major, Jackson is a theatre major and Jones is an interdisciplinary studies major.
A native of Carrollton, Texas, Adams earned second team All-SEC honors after starting 11 games at safety, ranking third on the team with 60 tackles, leading the squad with four interceptions. The sophomore was a 2014 Freshman All-American and a member of the 2014 All-SEC team.
Etling is a junior quarterback from Terre Haute, Indiana. The transfer from Purdue played in 13 games over two seasons, threw for 2,490 yards and 16 touchdowns. He started 12 consecutive games over a two-year span for the Boilermakers.
Senior sprinter Jackson hails from Milan, Illinois. She competes in the 60M, 100 and 200M and ran a career-best 7.68 seconds and placed 18th in the 60-meter dash in the New Mexico Classic in 2015.
Jones, a senior forward from Jackson, Tennessee, is currently averaging 5.7 points per game and 4.2 rebounds per game. She was a member of the 2014-15 SEC Community Service Team and received the LSU team award for community service in 2014-15.
Junior center/offensive guard Pocic was named to the 2015 All-SEC second team and was named the SEC Offensive Lineman of the Week for his performances at Mississippi State and versus South Carolina. He started center in all 11 games this season and recorded double-digit knockdowns in six games this season.
Oquist was selected as the Shaquille O’Neal Life Skills Program Student-Athlete of the Month for her dedication to the community, participating in numerous service events throughout his senior year. The senior swimmer is from Monticello, Minnesota and is the LSU record holder in the 100 Backstroke, 200 Backstroke, and 400-Medley Relay and was a member of the 2015 SEC Academic Honor Roll.
For putting forth extra effort in the classroom and community in addition to their rigorous academic and competition schedules, these six student-athletes will have their pictures displayed on the wall in the Cox Communications Academic Center for Student-Athletes.
The Cox Communications Academic Center for Student-Athletes is a 54,000 square foot facility comprised of an academic affairs, student affairs and an information technology team, serving more than 530 student-athletes. The purpose is to provide an all-inclusive, student-centered support structure for all student-athletes from matriculation, through graduation and life beyond.