Ambrosia, Barnum Named To FCS ADA Academic All-Star Team
Pair makes up half of NEC selections to the prestigious academic team
CLEVELAND – The Football Championship Subdivision Athletics Directors Association (FCS ADA) has named 54 student-athletes to the 27th Annual Academic All-Star Team. Central Connecticut State football players Alec Ambrosia and Jack Barnum were named to the squad. The pair makes up half of the four student-athletes honored that represent Northeast Conference football schools.
FCS ADA All-Star Team Announcement
The Pioneer Football League led the way with eight student-athletes placed on the 2024 All-Star Team, along with the United Athletic Conference with seven student-athletes and three conferences with six representatives each (Ivy League, Missouri Valley Football Conference and Ohio Valley Conference).
Ambrosia started all 13 games on the Blue Devils offensive line, that blocked for the NEC Offensive Player of the Year. CCSU nearly led the nation in sacks allowed, giving up just nine sacks over the 13 games played this season. Ambrosia, a First-Team All-NEC Honoree, played in 37 games during his CCSU career.
Barnum set the single-season school record with 16 made field goals and ranks second all-time with 29 converted field goals in his two seasons. He was named First-Team All-NEC this season, after tying a school-record 50-yard field goal.
Current FCS ADA President, Mark Benson, Director of Athletics at University at Albany, stated, "These exceptional young men demonstrate excellence not only in their academic pursuits, but also through their dedication on the field. Annually, we have the privilege of reviewing and selecting remarkable leaders who represent the best of our division, and this year's candidates have continued the tradition. Congratulations to all the nominated student-athletes and to those selected."
To view the complete list of winners, click here. Football players from all Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) institutions are eligible for the award. Each of the nominees were required to have a minimum grade point average of 3.20 (on a 4.00 scale) in undergraduate or graduate study and have been a starter or key player with legitimate athletics credentials. They must have reached their second year of athletics and academic standing at the nominated institution and have completed a minimum of one full academic year at the nominated institution. They also must have participated in 50 percent of the games played at their designated position.
