Vilma Named To Verizon Academic All-America Team

Dec. 2, 2003

Coral Gables, Fla. (www.hurricanesports.com) – University of Miami senior linebacker Jonathan Vilma (Coral Gables, Fla./Coral Gables HShas been named to the Verizon Academic All-America Team, the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) announced Monday. A first-team Verizon honoree in 2002, Vilma was named to the team’s second team this season.

Vilma is a two-time BIG EAST All-Academic Team honoree and was named to the Provost’s Honor Roll in 2001, 2002 and 2003. Vilma, who leads the Hurricanes in tackles with 108 this season, also is a finalist for the Butkus Award (college football’s outstanding linebacker) and has started at middle linebacker for UM the last three seasons. He was recently named to the 2003 class of National College Football Scholar-Athletes, which represents 15 of the nation’s finest college football student-athletes from all divisions of college football.

Vilma also is a finalist for the Draddy Trophy as the top scholar-athlete in the nation. Miami offensive lineman Joaquin Gonzalez was the winner of the Draddy Award, also known as “The Academic Heisman”, in 2001.

Vilma also has earned several academic honors at UM including: Dean’s List (2000, 2001 & 2002), Arthur Ashe Scholar Athlete (2001 & 2002), and the Athletic Director’s Honor Roll (2000, 2001 & 2002). On the field, he also was a Freshman All-American by Rivals.com in 2000, led UM in tackles each of the last three seasons and was a first-team All-BIG EAST selection in 2001 and 2002. Vilma is studying finance at UM and will graduate on time in May, 2004.