BELTON, Texas - University of Mary Hardin-Baylor football senior
Jefferson Fritz has been named American Southwest Conference Male Athlete of the Year. The ASC Athlete of the Year award annually recognizes a male and a female student-athlete whose athletic accomplishments best contributed to their sport, their institution's overall athletic program and to the conference.
Fritz, a defensive back from Kaufman, guided the Cru to its second national title in football and undefeated season in 2021. He was a D3football.com First Team All-America selection and American Football Coaches Association First Team All-America selection. Fritz was also a two-time all-region honoree at defensive back and punter and earned a pair of All-ASC awards at those positions. Fritz also earned Dave Campbell's Texas Football All-Small College Defensive Player of the Year, D3football.com Defensive Player of the Year, D3football.com Region 3 Defensive Player of the Year and ASC Defensive Player of the Year.
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Jefferson Fritz is truly an exemplary young man who is a very deserving recipient of ASC Male Athlete of the Year," Vice President for Athletics Mickey Kerr said. "His preparation, character, work ethic and respect for the game were evident every time he stepped on the football field. Without question, Jefferson had exceptional athletic ability; but he was also a team leader and the consummate team player."
Fritz was a 2021 Gagliardi Trophy finalist and only defensive player to make the 15-member semifinalist list and five-member final list. He won the fan vote for the award with 29.25 percent of the votes. Fritz was also a two-time D3football.com Team of the Week selection and earned ASC Co-Special Teams Player of the Week. He also served as a team captain and led the Cru's campaign to 20 wins during the 2021 calendar year.
Fritz is the 10
th UMHB male student-athlete to win the award. He joins football players Haston Adams (2018), Teidrick Smith (2017), Javicz Jones (2013), Jerrell Freeman (2008), Josh Kubiak (2007), Cody Fredenburg (2004) and Preston Meyer (2003). Men's Basketball players Josiah Johnson (2021) and Robert Moore (2002, 2001) have also won the award. Belhaven's Kennedy Carruth (softball) was named ASC Female Athlete of the Year.
