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Hampden-Sydney College offensive lineman Tyler Howerton has been voted to the 2020-21 Academic All-America Division III Football First Team, as selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA).

Howerton is a two-time Academic All-America First Team selection after earning the same distinction in 2019.

He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in physics from the college with a minor in mathematics, graduating with summa cum laude honors May 8 with a 4.0 GPA and was one of two Class of 2021 valedictorians. He was one of 12 finalists for the distinguished 2020 William V. Campbell Trophy, the first for Hampden-Sydney, largely regarded as the “Academic Heisman,” as the premier scholar-athlete award at all levels of collegiate football. Tyler also received a 2020 Barry Goldwater Scholar (the nation’s most prestigious scholarship in the natural sciences, mathematics, and engineering), H-SC’s first physics major to receive the award.

Howerton is a member of the 2021 National Football Foundation (NFF) and College Hall of Fame Hampshire Society. He is a recipient of the Hampden-Sydney President’s Award for Overall Academic Excellence, given to the senior at H-SC who stands highest in his class, and is a four-time winner of the H-SC Howell L. Gruver Award, given to the football player in each class with the highest GPA.

A member of five national honor societies: Phi Beta Kappa (academic), Omicron Delta Kappa (leadership), Sigma Xi (scientific research), Chi Beta Phi (science), and Pi Mu Epsilon (mathematics), Tyler received the Weyland Thomas Joyner Physics Award and the 2021 Gammon Cup, the latter of which is presented to the member of the H-SC graduating class who has best served the college via character, scholarship, and athletic ability.

On the field, Howerton spent time at center, right guard, and left tackle while starting all 32 games in which he played over his Tiger career. He was named the recipient of the prestigious Harry G. “Doc” Jopson Scholar-Athlete Award for 2021 by the Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC)-the conference’s top male scholar-athlete honor. Howerton was also the 2020-21 ODAC/Virginia Farm Bureau Insurance Football Scholar-Athlete of the Year, earning First Team All-ODAC honors during the recent spring season, as well. He is a four-time ODAC All-Academic Team honoree.

Tyler is the son of John and Nancy Howerton of Alexandria.