ODESSA, Texas (January 6, 2025) – Offensive linemen Tyler Ball, Torbyn Eakins and Girevis Bobey along with defensive lineman David Walker of The University of Texas Permian Basin football team were each named to the 2025-26 Academic All-District® Team, selected by College Sports Communicators.

Ball, Eakins and Bobey were three of five Falcons on the offensive line to be named all-conference this season. The Falcons' offense sat second in the LSC, averaging 461.9 total yards per game and 330.1 passing yards per game, and was third at 37.1 points per game. As a team, UTPB ranked third in the nation in passing offense, eighth in total offense and 16th in scoring offense. This season the UTPB football team set a program record with 11 wins, earned the first two playoff wins in program history, and advanced to the NCAA Quarterfinals to become the first UTPB athletic program to advance to the Elite 8 in the DII era. During the playoffs the Falcons were ranked No. 10 in the American Football Coaches' Association (AFCA) Coaches' Poll, and during the regular season they were ranked as high as No. 4 in the D2Football.com poll.

Tyler Ball is a graduate student with a 4.0 GPA in the exercise science master's program. He had a 3.90 undergraduate GPA majoring in human performance. Ball was named Honorable Mention All-Lone Star Conference. During the season, he started all 14 games at center to lead the offensive line. He was one of two Falcons on the offense line to start in all 14 games. He played a team-high 951 snaps and graded out at 89 percent. Ball is a three-time member of the Lone Star Conference Commissioner's Honor Roll (Fall 2023, Spring 2024, Fall 2024) and earned the 2025 D2 ADA Academic Achievement Award.

Torbyn Eakins is a junior with a 3.79 GPA majoring in information systems. Eakins was also named Honorable Mention All-Lone Star Conference. In his first season as a Falcon after arriving from Morehead State University, Eakins started in each of the first 10 games of the season at tackle/guard before missing the regular-season finale. In all, he started in 13 of the team's 14 games this season, making 11 of those starts at left tackle. He totaled 834 snaps on the season and graded out at 85 percent.

Girevis Bobey is a sophomore with a 3.71 GPA majoring in mechanical engineering. Bobey was named Second-Team All-Lone Star Conference and was the top offensive lineman on the all-conference teams for the Falcons. Bobey played in all 14 games during the season, and started each of the final 12 games at one of the guard positions (8 left guard, 4 right guard). He totaled 886 snaps on the season and graded out at 89 percent. Bobey has been named to the Lone Star Conference Commissioner's Honor Roll during each of his first four semester at UTPB (Fall 2023, Spring 2024, Fall 2024, Spring 2025) and earned the 2025 D2 ADA Academic Achievement Award.

David Walker is a junior with a 3.61 GPA majoring in management. Walker was named Honorable Mention All-Lone Star Conference. In his first season at UTPB, Walker played in all 14 games during the season and made the start in five of those contests. He made each of his starts at defensive end, and played defensive tackle throughout the season as well. A big-time presence on the edge, Walker totaled 24 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, 4.0 sacks, and had one fumble recovery. He had a huge sack in UTPB's big win at No. 5 Angelo State (Oct. 4) and had a season-high five tackles at Western Oregon (Oct. 18). In one of his starts, he had his breakout game with three tackles and two sacks at Western New Mexico (Oct. 25), which was tied for fourth-most sacks in a single game in the LSC this season. In the Falcons' regular-season finale vs. Sul Ross State (Nov. 15), Walker recovered a quarterback fumble to position the Falcons at the five-yard line and set up a rushing touchdown by linebacker Tristan Exline. In the second round of the NCAA Division II playoffs at Western Colorado (Nov. 29), Walker recorded three tackles for the fourth time this season and record his fourth sack of the year as well.

The 2025-26 Academic All-District® Football Teams, selected by College Sports Communicators, recognize the nation's top student-athletes for their combined performances on the field and in the classroom. To be eligible for CSC Academic All-District, a student-athlete must be at least a sophomore academically and athletically, hold a cumulative grade point average of 3.50 or higher and must be a standout in competition. Eligible nominees must compete in 90 percent of the institution's games played OR must start in at least 66 percent of the institution's games.

In addition, Eakins, Bobey and Walker were each selected as a CSC Academic All-America® finalists. Finalists are denoted with an asterisk and will advance to the national ballot to be voted on by CSC members. First-, second- and third-team Academic All-America® honorees will be announced January 27, 2026.