AUSTIN, Texas — Eight Tusculum University student-athletes have been named to the 2025 NCAA Division II Academic All-District® 2 Football Team as selected by the College Sports Communicators.
Earning CSC Academic All-District® honors are: Bryson Blanford, Quinton Brandon, Lex Dinwiddie, Gio Newsome, Jaden Outar, Antonio Sanchez, Nehemiah Storey and Caleb Swinehart.
The 2025 Academic All-District® Football team recognizes the nation’s top student-athletes for their combined performances on the field and in the class room.
District 2 is comprised of colleges and universities representing the South Atlantic Conference, Gulf South Conference, Conference Carolinas and the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. To be eligible, a student-athlete must have a cumulative grade point average of 3.50 or higher, must be at least a sophomore and played in 90 percent of their team’s games or start in 67 percent of their contests.
Blanford, a sophomore linebacker from Winter Springs, Florida, posted a 3.50 GPA while majoring in business administration. He is a member of the SAC Commissioner’s Honor Roll and the Tusculum Athletic Director’s Honor Roll. He appeared in nine games, mostly on special teams where he finished with four tackles. During his career, he has played in 14 outings.
Brandon, a sophomore from Greeneville, has a 3.86 GPA and is majoring in accounting. He is a member of the Tusculum Athletic Director’s Honor Roll. As TU’s starting punter, he averaged 37.2 yards per kick on his 53 attempts (2nd in SAC). His 13 punts inside the 20 are tied for the fifth-most in the league. He amassed five punts covering 50-plus yards including a career-best 69-yarder at UVA Wise, which is the ninth-longest in program history.
Dinwiddie, a sophomore running back from Fletcher, North Carolina, has a 3.53 GPA while majoring in sport management. He is a member of the SAC Commissioner’s Honor Roll, Dean’s List and the Athletic Director’s Honor Roll. He emerged as TU’s top back where he rushed for 421 yards on 66 attempts, averaging 6.4 yards per carry.
Newsome, a junior running back from Snellville, Georgia, boasts a 3.65 GPA while majoring in business management. He is a member of the SAC Commissioner’s Honor Roll and the Athletic Director’s Honor Roll. In his nine contests, he tallied three receptions for 16 yards and was also credited with three tackles.
Outar, a sophomore defensive back from Miami, Florida, is majoring in communications and has a 3.56 GPA. He is a member of the Athletic Director’s Honor Roll. He totaled 18 tackles to go along with two pass breakups. He made a season-best seven tackles against SAC and Region Champion Newberry. He also posted five tackles with two breakups against Lenoir-Rhyne.
Sanchez, a senior from Sevierville, Tennessee, has a 3.75 GPA while majoring in accounting and served as the team’s holder on special teams. He is a member of the Athletic Director’s Honor Roll, Dean’s List, SAC Commissioner’s Honor Roll and the Charles Oliver Gray Honors List. In 2024, he was the recipient of the Division II Athletic Directors Association Academic Achievement Award and is a member of the National Football Foundation’s Hampshire Honor Society.
Storey, a senior offensive lineman from Rockwood, Tennessee, has a perfect 4.00 GPA while majoring in pre-physical therapy. He is a member of the President’s List, Charles Oliver Gray Honors List, SAC Commissioner’s Honor Roll, Dean’s List and the Athletic Director’s Honor Roll. He is a 2024 recipient of the D2ADA Academic Achievement Award. He started in all 10 games at center for the Pioneers.
Swinehart, a senior long-snapper from Erwin, Tennessee, has a 3.62 GPA while majoring in environmental science. He is a member of the SAC Commissioner’s Honor Roll, Dean’s List, Charles Oliver Gray Honors List and the Athletic Director’s Honor Roll. He is a two-time D2ADA Academic Achievement Award winner and has been TU’s starting long-snapper the last two years. He has been credited with four tackles on special teams this season.
The CSC Academic All-America® program separately recognizes football honorees in four divisions — NCAA Division I, NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III and NAIA. Academic All-District® honorees advance to the CSC Academic All-America® ballot. First and second-team Academic All-America® honorees will be announced later this month.
The Division II and III CSC Academic All-America® programs are partially financially supported by the NCAA Division II and III national governance structures to assist CSC with handling the awards fulfillment aspects for the 2025-2026 Divisions II and III Academic All-America® programs.
