Bronco Trio Named Academic All-Americans
12/17/2021 12:00:00 PM | Football
BOISE, Idaho – Boise State fifth-year senior defensive back Kekaula Kaniho was named to the 2021 Academic All-America Division I Football First Team, while senior wide receiver Khalil Shakir and fifth-year senior linebacker Riley Whimpey received second-team honors, selected by the College Sport Information Directors of America (CoSIDA).
This marks the first time three Broncos have earned Academic All-America status since 2016 when offensive linemen Mason Hampton (first team) and Steven Baggett (second team) and punter Sean Wale (second team) were each selected.
Kaniho (3.96, health science) notched first-team honors for the second-consecutive year, accomplishing this feat for the first time since Hampton (2016-17). He was a second-team honoree in 2019.
Whimpey (3.82, business) garnered his second All-America accolade, as he joined Kaniho on the 2020-21 first-team list, while Shakir (3.37, communication) collected his first award.
To be eligible for the Academic All-America team, a student-athlete had to receive all-district honors. Kaniho, Shakir and Whimpey, along with junior quarterback Hank Bachmeier and sixth-year offensive lineman Donte Harrington, combined to give Boise State five all-district award winners, the most among all institutions the Mountain West.
Kaniho returned in 2021 for a fifth year with the Blue and Orange and made his 55th-career appearance as a Bronco against Air Force (Oct. 16), a Boise State record.
In his career, the Kahuku, Hawaii native has registered 217 tackles, including 28.5 for-loss (five sacks), six interceptions, 30 pass breakups, four forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries.
He is a three-time All-Mountain West performer, including a first-team honoree in 2019, and was named a semifinalist for the 2021 Wuerffel Trophy. The defensive back was the FBS Senior CLASS Award winner in 2020 and was invited to the 2021-22 NFLPA Collegiate Bowl.
Whimpey's 71 tackles, including 42 solo, are the second most at Boise State this season.
Against Oklahoma State (Sept. 18), he forced a fumble for the first time since the 2019 season-opening win over Florida State and registered a career-high seven solo tackles against Air Force (Oct. 16). He also recorded his sixth-career sack and first of the season at Fresno State (Nov. 6).
The San Clemente, Calif., native was named a semifinalist for the 2021 William V. Campbell Trophy and a 2021 Football Senior CLASS Award Candidate.
Shakir notched career highs in receptions (77) and receiving yards (1,117) this season, and his 15-consecutive games with at least 65 yards receiving are the longest active streak nationally.
The Murrieta, Calif., native ranks fifth all-time at Boise State in career receptions (208) and is tied for sixth in career 100-yard games (10). Additionally, his yards receiving this season moved him into fourth for career yards receiving (2,878).
This marks the first time three Broncos have earned Academic All-America status since 2016 when offensive linemen Mason Hampton (first team) and Steven Baggett (second team) and punter Sean Wale (second team) were each selected.
Kaniho (3.96, health science) notched first-team honors for the second-consecutive year, accomplishing this feat for the first time since Hampton (2016-17). He was a second-team honoree in 2019.
Whimpey (3.82, business) garnered his second All-America accolade, as he joined Kaniho on the 2020-21 first-team list, while Shakir (3.37, communication) collected his first award.
To be eligible for the Academic All-America team, a student-athlete had to receive all-district honors. Kaniho, Shakir and Whimpey, along with junior quarterback Hank Bachmeier and sixth-year offensive lineman Donte Harrington, combined to give Boise State five all-district award winners, the most among all institutions the Mountain West.
Kaniho returned in 2021 for a fifth year with the Blue and Orange and made his 55th-career appearance as a Bronco against Air Force (Oct. 16), a Boise State record.
In his career, the Kahuku, Hawaii native has registered 217 tackles, including 28.5 for-loss (five sacks), six interceptions, 30 pass breakups, four forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries.
He is a three-time All-Mountain West performer, including a first-team honoree in 2019, and was named a semifinalist for the 2021 Wuerffel Trophy. The defensive back was the FBS Senior CLASS Award winner in 2020 and was invited to the 2021-22 NFLPA Collegiate Bowl.
Whimpey's 71 tackles, including 42 solo, are the second most at Boise State this season.
Against Oklahoma State (Sept. 18), he forced a fumble for the first time since the 2019 season-opening win over Florida State and registered a career-high seven solo tackles against Air Force (Oct. 16). He also recorded his sixth-career sack and first of the season at Fresno State (Nov. 6).
The San Clemente, Calif., native was named a semifinalist for the 2021 William V. Campbell Trophy and a 2021 Football Senior CLASS Award Candidate.
Shakir notched career highs in receptions (77) and receiving yards (1,117) this season, and his 15-consecutive games with at least 65 yards receiving are the longest active streak nationally.
The Murrieta, Calif., native ranks fifth all-time at Boise State in career receptions (208) and is tied for sixth in career 100-yard games (10). Additionally, his yards receiving this season moved him into fourth for career yards receiving (2,878).
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