OU’s Houston receives Bob James Memorial Scholarship Award
Bryce Houston. (Ohio University photo)
Bowling Green's Taylor Jensen (gymnastics) and Ohio's Bryce Houston (football) have been named the recipients of the 2023 Bob James Memorial Scholarship Award by the Mid-American Conference Faculty Athletics Representatives as announced by the league office Friday (Aug. 25).
Houston (Lewis Center, Ohio) is the first Ohio football student-athlete to receive this award as well as the first Bobcat to be recognized with the Bob James award since 1994.
In its 35th year, the Bob James Memorial Scholarship Award recognizes one female and one male student who have achieved a minimum grade point average of 3.50 and have displayed good character, leadership and citizenship. The students are nominated during the year in which they complete their final season of eligibility. The $5,000 post-graduate scholarship is awarded in honor of Bob James, the second commissioner in Mid-American Conference history (1964-71).
Houston graduated with an undergraduate degree in finance with a 3.50 GPA. During the 2022 season, Houston started all 14 games for the Bobcats, recording 76 tackles, 40 of which were solo, with 11 tackles for loss. He led the team with 5.5 sacks and had two fumble recoveries, highlighted by a 42-yard fumble recovery for a touchdown to extend Ohio's lead over Fordham (Sept. 24).
Houston was a 2022 Team captain and was named Academic All-MAC. Throughout his career, Houston has been named to the All-MAC Third Team and has been an Academic All-MAC selection a total of three times.
"Bryce is a remarkable leader, student-athlete and person both on and off the field," said Ohio Director of Athletics Julie Cromer. "He epitomizes the spirit of the Bob James Award and is a great representative for the Bobcats."
The Mid-American Conference office is based in Cleveland, Ohio as the Conference office serves 12 full-time members and offer championships in 23 sports.
Founded in 1946, the Mid-American Conference is an NCAA Division I, 12-member conference that sponsors 23 championships and is one of ten members of the Football Bowl Subdivison (FBS). With total enrollment of nearly 300,000 students, the league represents institutions of higher learning in five states - Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, New York and Ohio.