EL PASO -- At 6-foot-4, 315 pounds, Cameron Raschke looks the part of a star guard for the UTEP football team.

He's also a star in the classroom as a growing number of honors in that arena show. Raschke, who was an all-academic Conference USA selection after this past football season, just won the Kinesiology Major of the Year Exercise Sciences award.

Raschke is applying to be a Top 10 Senior, carries a 3.67 grade-point average and has been on the Dean's List since the spring of 2007.

"It's an honor. It's definitely humbling," Raschke said. "It feels good getting recognition from professors. It's great to be honored in the athletic arena, and it's great to be honored in the academic arena. It's just as good.

"We're student-athletes, and the student comes first."

Raschke started every game last season as a junior, playing both guard positions.

Bret Bloomquist may be reached at bbloomquist@elpasotimes.com; 546-6359.