DURHAM, N.C. - North Carolina Central University punter
Juan Velarde and quarterback
Davius Richard have been announced as members of the 2022 Academic All-District® Football Teams, selected by College Sports Communicators, in recognition of the nation's top student-athletes for their combined performances on the field and in the classroom.
Velarde, a resident of Anderson, South Carolina, is a junior in the classroom and he boasts a perfect 4.0 cumulative grade point average (GPA) as a business administration major with a concentration in entrepreneurship at NCCU. He is a member of the University Honors Program and the Beta Gamma Sigma International Business Honor Society. He also earned the NCCU Football Eagle Excellence award for having the highest GPA on the team and was a recipient of the 2022 University Scholar-Athlete Award by the National Football Foundation's Bill Dooley Chapter.
Velarde participates in numerous clubs and organizations, including the NCCU Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC), the NCAA Division I Football Oversight Committee Student-Athlete Connection Group and The National Society of Leadership and Success.
In the community, Velarde served as a tutor and motivator with Latino/Hispanic youth through El Centro Hispano, and has volunteered with the Durham Farmer Foodshare, W.G. Pearson Elementary Food Pantry support, Bone Marrow Drive, Day of Champions Backpack & School Supply Drive, and Durham CROP Hunger Walk.
Velarde ranks third in the MEAC in punting with an average distance of 41.6 yards per punt. He has boomed four punts more than 50 yards, including a long of 55 yards, and has placed 12 out of 30 punts inside the 20-yard line.
Richard, out of Belle Glade, Florida, is a 2022 All-MEAC First Team honoree and MEAC Commissioner's All-Academic Team student-athlete. He is a member of the NCCU Football Leadership Council (2019-present) and was selected to The 1910 NCCU Male Scholars that is awarded to fewer than 10-percent of minority students at NCCU.
Academically, Richard is on track to earn an undergraduate degree from NCCU in December, and owns a 3.60 cumulative grade point average as a business administration major.
Richard's community service efforts include hosting summer youth football clinics.
The seven-time MEAC Offensive Player of the Week ranks fifth in the nation (FCS) in points responsible for with 20.4 points per game, and 12th in total offense with 288.8 yards per game. Richard leads the MEAC in passing yards (2,486), passing touchdowns (24), and rushing touchdowns (13).
Academic All-District® honorees advance to the CSC Academic All-America® ballot. First- and second-team Academic All-America® honorees will be announced in late December.
For more information about CSC Academic All-District® and Academic All-America® Teams program, visit AcademicAllAmerica.com.
For more information about NCCU Athletics, visit NCCUEaglePride.com or download the NCCU Eagles Athletics app.
