National Football Foundation

The undisputed leader of a start-up football program in only its third year of existence, UTSA’s Eric Soza has quickly showcased an astounding balance of leadership on and off the field. He has parlayed his success into becoming the Roadrunners’ first-ever NFF National Scholar-Athlete.

A standout in the classroom with a near-perfect 3.96 GPA, Soza was named the 2012-13 UTSA Will & Mary Hathaway Academic Athlete of the Year after earning Academic All-WAC honors in 2012. The four-time member of the UTSA President’s List graduated summa cum laude last May, and he is currently enrolled in a master’s program for higher education administration.

Soza currently ranks third in total offense (266.6 ypg) and fourth in passing average (234.6 ypg) in Conference USA, helping UTSA make an immediate impact during its first year in the conference. Throwing only three interceptions during his junior campaign, the three-year team captain once held the FBS record for passes in between picks with 256 last season. The Beeville, Texas, native has started every game of his UTSA career, and he scored the first touchdown in program history. He currently boasts 501 career completions for 6,110 yards and 44 touchdowns.

Named to the 2013 AFCA Good Works Team, Soza has entered his third term as president of UTSA’s Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC), and he holds the position of vice president for C-USA’s SAAC. He became the first-ever UTSA student-athlete to earn the Golden Feather Award, which recognizes top students whose contributions have greatly benefitted the university. Soza volunteers with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, and he has participated in activities for Bubble for Troubles, Rowdy Readers, Samaritan’s Feet, and the Wounded Warrior Project.

Soza is currently an offensive graduate assistant at the University of Houston.