Mines’ Matocha, Reeve Claim RMAC Football Academic Player of the Year Honors
2021 RMAC Football All-Academic Full Release
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Colorado School of Mines’ John Matocha and Nolan Reeve are the 2021 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) Football Academic Offensive and Defensive Players of the Year, respectively, the league announced Monday. In addition to the Academic Player of the Year announcements, the RMAC released its 2021 First Team Academic All-Conference Offensive, Defensive and Special Teams rosters and honor roll.
Matocha claims RMAC Academic Offensive Player of the Year after leading the Orediggers to one of their highest national rankings in program history this season. The junior quarterback currently ranks first in the RMAC in completion percentage (.699), passing touchdowns (22) and is responsible for an average of 18 points per game. Matocha is averaging 206.6 passing yards per game and has compiled 251 rushing yards and a pair of rushing touchdowns for the Mines this season. In addition to his success on the field, Matocha also holds a 3.73 grade-point average as a computer science major.
Reeve secures the RMAC Academic Defensive Player of the Year honor as a staple of the Colorado School of Mines defense. The senior linebacker ranks second in the RMAC with 6.5 sacks and fifth in the league with 10 tackles for loss. He has racked up 51 tackles on the season to stand tied for first among the Orediggers’ roster. Reeve has also forced a fumble and recovered a fumble for Mines this season and his five hurries to his name, a mark that leads the Orediggers in the 2021 campaign. The Mission Viejo, Calif., product holds a 3.72 GPA as a mechanical engineering major.
Of the 25 student-athletes honored among the Offensive, Defensive and Special Teams First Team All-Academic rosters, eight institutions are represented. Colorado School of Mines and Colorado State University Pueblo lead the way with six honorees apiece. Colorado Mesa accounts for four selections, while Black Hills State is responsible for three spots. South Dakota Mines and Western Colorado secure two positions each, while Chadron State and Fort Lewis each hold one roster spot apiece.
In addition to the announcement of the first-team roster, the RMAC Football Honorable Mention list was also released.
Offensive Academic Player of the Year: John Matocha, Colorado School of Mines
Defensive Academic Player of the Year: Nolan Reeve, Colorado School of Mines
2021 RMAC Football First Team Academic All-Conference - Offense
| Name |
School |
Cl. |
Pos. |
GPA |
Major |
| John Matocha* |
Colorado School of Mines |
Jr. |
QB |
3.73 |
Computer Science |
| Nolan Susel |
Black Hills State |
So. |
RB |
3.82 |
Business Administration |
| Michael Zeman |
Colorado School of Mines |
Gr. |
RB |
3.36 |
Engineering & Technology Mgmt. |
| Tristan Smith |
Colorado School of Mines |
Sr. |
WR |
3.87 |
Petroleum Engineering |
| Mason Karp |
Colorado School of Mines |
Sr. |
WR |
3.94 |
Mechanical Engineering |
| Nathan Meyer |
Western Colorado |
So. |
WR |
3.95 |
Business Administration |
| Nate Clay |
Black Hills State |
So. |
OL |
3.83 |
History |
| Thayne Jackson |
CSU Pueblo |
Jr. |
OL |
3.78 |
Marketing |
| Mac Shaw |
CSU Pueblo |
So. |
OL |
3.92 |
Engineering |
| Sean Johnson |
CSU Pueblo |
Sr. |
OL |
3.45 |
Business Management |
| Jack Metcalf |
Colorado Mesa |
So. |
OL |
3.47 |
Energy and Land Management |
| Justin Wood |
Colorado School of Mines |
Gr. |
OL |
3.43 |
Mechanical Engineering |
2021 RMAC Football First Team Academic All-Conference - Defense
| Name |
School |
Cl. |
Pos. |
GPA |
Major |
| Torren Calhoun |
Colorado Mesa |
Jr. |
DL |
4.0 |
Entrepreneurship |
| Logan Bayus |
Colorado Mesa |
Jr. |
DL |
3.52 |
Health & Fitness Promotion |
| Tavian Robey |
CSU Pueblo |
So. |
DL |
3.70 |
Psychology |
| Max Hyson |
Fort Lewis |
So. |
DL |
3.86 |
Biology |
| Aaron Thiele |
Black Hills State |
R-Fr. |
LB |
3.79 |
Psychology |
| Max Gonzales |
CSU Pueblo |
Jr. |
LB |
4.0 |
Economics |
| Nolan Reeve^ |
Colorado School of Mines |
Sr. |
LB |
3.72 |
Mechanical Engineering |
| Ju’Wan Murphy |
Chadron State |
Sr. |
DB |
3.33 |
Physical Education |
| Tony Monroe, Jr. |
South Dakota Mines |
Jr. |
DB |
3.49 |
Mechanical Engineering |
| Christian Singleton |
South Dakota Mines |
Sr. |
DB |
3.41 |
Interdisciplinary Studies |
| Adrien Vasquez |
New Mexico Highlands |
Jr. |
DB |
3.39 |
Business Administration |
2021 RMAC Football First Team Academic All-Conference – Special Teams
| Name |
School |
Cl. |
Pos. |
GPA |
Major |
| Blake Moore |
Colorado Mesa |
Jr. |
P |
3.73 |
Finance |
| Justin Dwinell |
CSU Pueblo |
So. |
P |
3.95 |
Business Management |
* 2021 RMAC Football Offensive Academic Player of the Year
^ 2021 RMAC Football Defensive Academic Player of the Year
A tie in voting led to six offensive linemen receiving first-team honors