Emmanuel Acho

Classroom

A two-time first-team Academic All-Big 12 selection and a six-time member of UT’s Athletics Director’s Honor Roll, Acho has twice been honored with the Arthur Ashe, Jr., Sports Scholarship Award, which is a national award that recognizes minority student-athletes who are committed to both education and athletics.

Character

Acho has earned the respect of both his teammates and coaches and is one of the key senior leaders heading into the 2011 season. He is always respectful and courteous to those around him and his character is magnified by his community efforts. An on-field example of his character was also displayed by his ability to overcome a third-quarter injury and help lead Texas to a 20-13 victory on the road at No. 5 Nebraska in 2010. The Longhorns had already sustained another injury to a linebacker during the game, but Acho was able to return and solidify the position, finishing with seven tackles.

Community

Acho and his family have made several medical mission trips to his father and mother’s native country of Nigeria. He helped organize fundraisers in Dallas prior to the 2009 and 2010 trips, then he and several teammates traveled to assist his father and approximately 40 doctors in giving medical treatment to Nigerians who may only have access to a doctor once a year. The family hopes to build a permanent clinic soon and is returning to Nigeria in 2011. Among his other community efforts, he has mentored children at the Boys & Girls Club and is a regular visitor to the Dell Children’s Medical Center. He has also volunteered at a golf tournament that raised money for research for the Alzheimer’s Foundation and in late August he will be spending time at an Austin-area church at a community-building event.

Competition

Acho has played in 35 career games, including 13 starts, and posted 147 tackles (93 solo), 22 tackles for loss, five sacks, six forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries and two interceptions. A second-team All-Big 12 selection in 2010, he started 11 games and registered 87 tackles (49 solo), three sacks, 12 tackles for loss, two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery and one interception. He was also an honorable mention All-Big 12 selection in 2009 when he appeared in 14 games, including two starts, and tallied 49 tackles (36 solo), including 10 tackles for loss and two sacks.