2025 CSC Academic All-District Football Teams

The Hillsdale College football team put a bow on another solid season in 2025 with strong work in the classroom, as demonstrated by the College Sports Communicators Academic All-District teams announced on Tuesday afternoon.

Eight Chargers players, the maximum amount, received the distinction from CSC in recognition of their achievements both on the field and in the classroom at Hillsdale for the 2025 season. The CSC Academic All-America® program began in 1952 and has awarded teams since then, seeking out student athletes with an impressive blend of academic and athletic success. Being named to an All-District team is the first step in the process, and requires an athlete holds a 3.5 or better GPA and meet performance criteria on the field. The eight honorees are seniors Aidan Kowatch, Noah Larrick, Kyle Riffel and Ryan Strasser, juniors Shea Ruddy and Jonah Jensen, sophomore Tutt Carrico and redshirt freshman Luke Penola.

Hillsdale's lone repeat All-District honoree is Shea Ruddy, who was a second-team Academic All-American to the CSC last year as well as an All-District recipient. Ruddy is a strong contender to earn Academic All-American distinction again in 2025, after setting new program records for career kick return yards (1,692) and kick return touchdowns (five) while earning first team All-American honors from the D2CCA and repeat G-MAC Special Teams Player of the Year honors.

Also under consideration for Academic All-American honors is Tutt Carrico, who had a stellar second season at wide receiver for the Chargers to earn second team All-G-MAC honors, while finishing second on the team in receptions (35) and receiving yards (580), and finishing tied for the team lead in receiving touchdowns (seven).

Ryan Strasser finishes his career at Hillsdale with Academic All-District honors after starting all 12 games at left guard for the Chargers and additionally earning second team All-G-MAC honors for his play. He's one of four graduating seniors to earn All-District honors for Hillsdale, along with Aidan Kowatch, Noah Larrick and Kyle Riffel, all of whom made significant contributions for the Chargers on special teams and appeared in at least 11 contests for the team in 2025.

Also receiving the honor is junior Jonah Jensen, who started all 12 games for the Chargers at safety with multiple strong performances, and redshirt freshman Luke Penola, who played in all 12 games and took over as a starter at linebacker for the final five contests for Hillsdale in his first season on the field for the Chargers.

All eight of these players players have been impressive in the classroom throughout their careers at Hillsdale, consistently earning Academic All-G-MAC honors and winning a variety of academic awards. In order to be considered for the award, all eight players had to maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher, no easy task at a school with the reputation for academic excellence and rigor that Hillsdale holds. 

CSC will announce its Academic All-Americans in football for 2025 on Jan. 27, 2025. Candidates were selected for consideration from the pool of Academic All-District honorees and will be voted on by the national body of CSC members. First, second and third-team honorees will be awarded.