AUSTIN - Baylor football seniors Troy Baker and Collin Brence earned 2014 Capital One Academic All-America second team honors, the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) announced Thursday.

The dual selections mark the first time in Baylor history that the Bears have had two honorees in the same year on the 50-man list (26 second team choices). BU is one of five teams with multiple representatives and the only Big 12 team among the three represented from the league with multiple selections. All-time, Baker and Brence are the program's 21st and 22nd Academic All-America choices.

The Bears' last Academic All-American was Nick Florence in 2012, which marked the end of run of five straight years with one Academic All-American. Since 2005, BU has had nine selections.

Baker graduated in December of 2012 with a degree in finance and is pursuing his Masters in Business Administration with a 3.40 GPA. The Waco, Texas, native was a key cog of the offensive line that has blocked for the nation's top offense (49.8 points/game, 581.1 yards/game) until suffering a season-ending knee injury versus West Virginia Oct. 18. Baker started the first seven games this season and has 22 career starts in 33 games at right tackle. He was a 2012 honorable mention All-Big 12 choice by the league's coaches in his lone full season as a starter and is a three-time first-team Academic All-Big 12 choice.

Brence is a former walk-on and special teams veteran that earned a scholarship in 2014 fall camp while emerging as BU's starting nickelback in his final season. The Plano, Texas, native with 40 games under his belt and a 3.73 GPA in professional sales has started all 11 games this season for BU, and was a Burlsworth Trophy nominee. He's blown away his career highs this season with 42 tackles, 2.5 tackles-for-loss, one sack, one fumble recovery, two pass breakups and one interception. He's also a two-time Academic All-Big 12 first team honoree.

In order to qualify for the honor, both Baker and Brence earned first-team 2014 Capital One Academic All-District distinction.

No. 5 Baylor closes the regular season Saturday at 6:45 p.m. CT against No. 9 Kansas State on ESPN at McLane Stadium with a Big 12 championship on the line and a possible College Football Playoff spot.

To stay current on all things Baylor Football, follow the team on Twitter: @BUFootball.

Baylor CoSIDA Academic All-America Honorees
Ronnie Bull, 1961
Don Trull, 1962
Don Trull, 1963
Tommy Turnipseede, 1974 (2nd)
Chris Quinn, 1976 (1st)
Matt Clark, 1986 (2nd)
Matt Clark, 1987 (2nd)
Mike Welch, 1989 (1st)
Mike Welch, 1990 (1st)
J.J. Joe, 1991 (2nd)
J.J. Joe, 1992 (2nd)
J.J. Joe, 1993 (2nd)
Ty Atteberry, 1996 (1st)
Daniel Sepulveda, 2005 (1st)
Daniel Sepulveda, 2006 (1st)
Joe Pawelek, 2008 (2nd)
Joe Pawelek, 2009 (2nd)
Derek Epperson, 2010 (2nd)
Robert Griffin III, 2011 (2nd)
Nick Florence, 2012 (1st)
Troy Baker, 2014 (2nd)
Collin Brence, 2014 (2nd)