DALLAS – Jacksonville State's Kolbi Fuqua and Will O'Steen have been named to Conference USA's Football All-Academic Team, the league office announced on Thursday.
 
The Gamecock duo were part of the 11-player team that was released by the conference, recognizing those that excelled in both the classroom and on the field during Jax State's inaugural season in FBS and in the conference.
 
The team is voted on from a pool of nominees that must have a 3.2 cumulative grade point average and be a starter of key reserve on their team for the 2023 season. 
 
Fuqua is a redshirt senior linebacker from Cordova, Ala., who has been a leader for the Gamecocks as they made the transition from FCS in to FBS. Already a Jax State graduate with a degree in exercise science and wellness, Fuqua currently holds a 4.0 GPA as he works towards his Master's of Science in Sport Management.
 
On the field, he is one of the Gamecocks' defensive leaders, leading a unit that has limited opponents to the No. 1 Scoring Defense and the No. 2 Total Defense in Conference USA. He is second on the Jax State team in tackles with 78, while also recording 6.0 tackles for a loss and 2.5 sacks, an interception, one pass break up, six quarterback hurries and a forced fumble. In Jax State's game at Coastal Carolina this season, he totaled 18 tackles, the most in a game by a Gamecock since 2008. He has made 212 tackles in his Jax State career, including 17.5 tackles for a loss. 
 
O'Steen is a redshirt sophomore for the Gamecocks that already has an accomplished academic record from his time with the Gamecocks. The native of nearby White Plains, Ala., already owns his undergraduate degree in biology with a 3.65 GPA and is working on his Master's of Science in Biology, where he carries a 3.65 GPA.
 
On the field for Jax State, O'Steen started every game for Jax State at Left Tackle this season and is a mainstay for an offensive front that has led the Gamecocks to fifth-best rushing offense in FBS through the regular season. He has helped pave the way for an offense that is averaging 232.2 yards per game on the ground. Jax State has run for at least 140 in every game but one in 2023, including seven games with more than 200 yards and a CUSA-record 522 rushing yards against LA Tech.
 
The Gamecocks are preparing for a bowl appearance in their first season at the FBS level and will learn their matchup and destination on Sunday. To reserve tickets in the Jax State section at the bowl game, fill out the BOWL TICKET RESERVATION FORM.