Jackson Selected as 2022-23 3C2A Scholar-Athlete of the Year; Three Squads Tabbed Scholar Teams
Sacramento, Calif. - Former Butte College football punter and kicker Dante Jackson has been selected as the 2022-23 3C2A Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year, announced on Wednesday.
The Butte men's basketball, women's basketball, and football teams were also named 3C2A Scholar Team of the Year in their respective sports. This award marks the first honor for men's basketball, seventh honor for women's basketball, and the second for football.
And former women's basketball standout Meghan Weinrich was named to the 3C2A Scholar-Athlete Honor Roll.
Jackson played for the Roadrunners for two seasons before signing with the University of Akron Zips (NCAA Division I - FBS). In 2023, Jackson took on the punting duties, tallying 2,344 yards on 63 attempts (37.21 ypp) with a long of 65 yards. He landed 13 in the 20 yard line. three that were over 50 yards, and 28 that were fair caught. He also kicked off for the Zips and went 2-for-3 in field goals with a long of 25.
At Butte, Jackson ranked second in the state in average punt yards (41.8), posting 38 total punts for 1,590 yards with his longest punt being 73 yards in 2022. Half of his punts landed inside the 20 with only one touchback. He also handled the kicking duties for the season, tallying eight field goals and 43 extra points. He played in all 22 games during his two-year career, averaging 41.4 yards per punt with 33 landing in the 20. As a kicker, he tallied 10 field goals with a long of 51, adding 47 extra points.
In the classroom, Jackson was the lone 3C2A student-athlete to earn College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-America honors on the 10-person team during the 2022-23 academic year, and he was one of four with a perfect 4.0 GPA. A business administration major, he also completed an AA in Social and Behavioral Sciences.
He was named the Chico Sports Hall of Fame and Athletes Banquet Butte College Sophomore of the Year, CSC Academic All-District, California Community College Football Coaches Association (CCCFCA) Academic All-State, and Butte Athletics Scholar-Athlete. Additionally, he was a two-time All-California First Team and Northern California Football Conference (NCFC) First Team honoree.
Men's basketball advanced to the second round of playoffs last year. In the classroom, it posted a 3.45 GPA with three members with a 4.0 GPA.
The women's basketball team continued to make history during the 2022-23 season, advancing to the state championship game. But the team also was a winner in the classroom, boasting a 3.70 GPA by its 15 members including eight perfect 4.0 marks.
And of its 66 roster, eight football players posted 4.0 marks, while the team put together a 3.10 GPA in 2022. The team went 7-3 in the regular season, finishing second in the NorCal League.
Weinrich, who transferred and is starting for Oral Roberts University, was the 2023 NorCal Player of the Year. She was the two-time All-State, GVC Player of the Year and All-GVC First Team; 3C2A All-Tournament Team; Chico Sports Hall of Fame and Athletes Banquet Sophomore of the Year; Butte Athletics Female Athlete of the Year; January 2022 3C2A Female Athlete of the Month; Butte Athletics Female Newcomer of the Year; two-time Butte Athletics Female Athlete of the Month, and numerous other tournament MVP and All-Tournament honors. Overall she finished her career at Butte averaging 20.1 points, 10.5 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.6 assists, 3.8 steals, and 0.8 blocks per game. Last season, she amassed 603 points on 43.2 percent shooting, 354 rebounds, 150 assists, 109 steals, and 33 blocked shots. She only fouled out two times in her career, and she amassed over 1,000 points, 500 rebounds, 200 assists, and 200 steals during her career. She added 15 double-doubles in 2022-23 and 13 double-doubles in 2021-22 out of 58 total games played.
Jackson, Weinrich, and the three scholar teams will be honored at the annual 3C2A convention on Wednesday, Mar. 27 during the Scholar-Athlete Luncheon.
All-Time Butte College Scholar-Athletes
Scholar-Athlete of the Year
2023: Dante Jackson | Football
2022: Savannah Wahl | Softball
2004: Marisa Parker | Women's Track and Field
2001: Chameion Sutton | Football
Scholar Team of the Year
2022-23: Men's Basketball; Women's Basketball; Football
2021-22: Women's Basketball; Softball
2018-19: Football
2009-10: Women's Track and Field
2007-08: Women's Basketball
2006-07: Women's Basketball
2005-06: Women's Basketball
2004-05: Men's Golf
2003-04: Women's Basketball
2002-23: Women's Basketball
1997-98: Women's Volleyball