Boston College football isn’t just turning heads on the field - it’s making waves in the classroom, too. Four Eagles have been named to the 2025 All-ACC Academic Football Team, a recognition that highlights the rare blend of athletic grit and academic discipline.
Leading the way are Josiah Griffin and Juan Zabal, both earning this honor for the second time in their careers. That’s no small feat.
Griffin, a defensive lineman from Springfield, Massachusetts, is majoring in Psychology - a field that demands both critical thinking and a deep understanding of human behavior, traits that certainly translate well to reading offenses on the gridiron. Zabal, hailing from Mexico City, also joins the two-time honoree club, showing that his impact at Boston College extends far beyond the field.
Joining them with first-time selections are kicker Luca Lombardo and wide receiver VJ Wilkins. Lombardo, a Communication major from Westport, Connecticut, has shown poise in pressure-packed moments on the field, and now he’s proving just as steady in the academic arena. Wilkins, from Pfafftown, North Carolina, rounds out the group - a dynamic playmaker who’s also getting it done in the classroom.
To land on the All-ACC Academic Team, student-athletes must meet a high bar: a minimum 3.0 GPA for both the previous two semesters and their overall academic career, plus at least one year of enrollment and participation in at least half of their team’s games. It’s a standard that ensures these honors go to players who are consistently balancing the demands of high-level football with serious academic commitment.
This kind of recognition speaks volumes about the culture Boston College is cultivating - one where excellence isn’t confined to Saturdays in the fall. These four players are setting the tone, proving that success in the ACC can come with both a playbook and a textbook in hand.