DALLAS – Conference USA has named 11 football student-athletes to the 2023 CUSA Football All-Academic Team for excelling both on and off the field this season. Six schools are represented on this year’s team, led by five schools with a pair of selections apiece.
Jacksonville State redshirt senior S Kolbi Fuqua was one of the Gamecocks’ defensive leaders, leading a unit to second in CUSA in total defense and scoring defense. Fuqua is currently second on the team with 78 total tackles while also recording 6.0 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks and a forced fumble. The Cordova, Alabama native earned his undergraduate degree in Exercise Science and is now pursuing his Masters of Science and Sport Management.
Jacksonville State redshirt sophomore OL Will O’Steen started every game at left tackle this season and is a mainstay for an offensive front that has led the Gamecocks to the fifth-best rushing offense in FBS. O’Steen already earned his undergraduate degree in Biology and is also pursuing his Masters of Science and Biology.
Louisiana Tech redshirt junior K Jacob Barnes is a three-time CUSA Commissioner’s Honor Roll recipient as he is awarded his first All-Academic Team honors. Barnes connected on 12 of 15 field goals this season and ranks eighth in CUSA with 65 total points scored this season. The Baton Rouge native boasts a 3.70 GPA is currently seeking a degree in Professional Aviation as he finishes his college career.
Louisiana Tech graduate student OL Abraham Delfin earns his fourth-straight All-Academic Team nod as a four-year starter with a 3.90 GPA in his MBA journey. Delfin graduated magna cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in construction engineering technology in May 2021 and is a six-time CUSA Academic Medalist and member of the Commissioner’s Honor Roll. He has helped pave the way for 37 100+ rushing yard performances in his career.
MTSU junior LB Sam Brumfield is a first-time All-Academic Team selection and has a 4.00 GPA in integrated studies. Brumfield received CUSA Defensive Player of the Week honors on September 18 and led the Blue Raiders in tackles with 82.0 while ranking third in tackles for loss with 6.5. In a win against Murray State, he led the charge with a career-best 13 tackles to go with a sack, 1.5 tackles for loss and a forced fumble.
MTSU redshirt sophomore QB Nicholas Vattiato adds an All-Academic Team selection to his impressive resume, which includes a perfect 4.00 GPA, the 2021 Bahamas Bowl MVP and a recipient of the CUSA Commissioner’s Academic Medal. Vattiato ranks second among CUSA quarterbacks in passing yards (3,092), second in completion percentage (66.8) and third in touchdowns (23).
New Mexico State redshirt senior K Ethan Albertson, who owns a 3.95 GPA and currently going after an MBA has been the Aggies’ primary place kicker and kick off taker for the last three seasons. Albertson ranks first in CUSA in total points (97) and points per game (7.5), while also making 18 of his 23 field goal attempts this season.
New Mexico State redshirt junior OL Canaan Yaro makes it a pair of Aggies on the All-Academic Team with a perfect 4.00 in communication studies. Yaro has started in all 13 games and serves as a centerpiece on the Aggie offensive line. The Provo, Utah native has led the front to averaging over 200 yards rushing per game and ranking second in CUSA in yards per rush.
UTEP redshirt senior OL Elijah Klein started in all 12 games for the Miners as a recent graduate in Leadership Studies boasting a 4.00 GPA. Klein played a key part in the UTEP rushing attack, averaging over 144 yards per game. He has also helped pave the way for two Miner running backs to rank in the top eight on the CUSA rushing list.
UTEP junior P Joshua Sloan, who owns a 3.96 GPA in Finance, garners All-Academic Team honors for the first time in his career. The Aussie punter played in all 12 games for the Miners and ranks second in CUSA and 28th nationally in punting average (44.2). Sloan has booted 51 punts for 2,254 yards including a career-long 65-yard punt at FIU.
WKU redshirt senior QB Austin Reed caps off the 2023 All-Academic Team. Reed is a recent graduate with a degree in Recreation & Sport Administration while maintaining a superb 3.75 GPA. Reed has started all 12 games for the Hilltoppers and leads CUSA in passing yards (3,340), passing yards per game (278.3) and passing touchdowns (31). In 2022, Reed was the New Orleans Bowl MVP, the CUSA Newcomer of the Year and a Davey O’Brien Award Semifinalist.
2023 All-Academic Team
Name Year Pos. GPA Major(s) Kolbi Fuqua, Jax State R-Sr. S 4.00 Masters of Science/Sport Management Will O’Steen, Jax State R-So. OL 3.65 Masters of Science/Biology Jacob Barnes, LA Tech R-Jr. K 3.696 Professional Aviation Abraham Delfin, LA Tech4 Gr. OL 3.889 Masters of Science and Engineering Technology Sam Brumfield, MTSU R-Jr. LB 4.00 Integrated Studies Nicholas Vattiato, MTSU R-Jr. QB 4.00 Exercise Science Ethan Albertson, NM State R-Sr. K 3.95 Master of Business Administration Canaan Yaro, NM State R-Jr. OL 4.00 Communications Elijah Klein, UTEP R-Sr. OL 4.00 Leadership Studies Joshua Sloan, UTEP Jr. P 3.96 Finance Austin Reed, WKU R-Sr. QB 3.75 Recreation & Sport Administration -ConferenceUSA.com-
