DALLAS – Conference USA tabbed 11 student-athletes to its 2025 CUSA Football All-Academic Team Friday morning. Ten schools are represented on the list with Delaware leading the way with two selections, while FIU, Jacksonville State, Kennesaw State, Liberty, Louisiana Tech, MTSU, New Mexico State, Sam Houston and UTEP are represented as well.
Delaware wide receiver
Kyre Duplessis owns a 3.50 GPA as a statistics master’s student while setting career highs in every statistical receiving category for marks in a season and game. He has hauled in 48 passes for 639 yards and five touchdowns. Duplessis earned CSC Academic All-District honors in 2023 during his four-year tenure at Coastal Carolina.
A member of the Wuerffel Award, Jason Witten Man of the Year and William V. Campbell Trophy watch lists and two-time CSC Academic All-District nod, Delaware wideout
Jake Thaw has been a pillar in the Fightin’ Blue Hens program for academics, athletics and service. He has caught 23 passes for 264 yards and a touchdown.
FIU wide receiver
Ross Fournet boasts a 3.91 GPA in biology and interdisciplinary studies. He has tallied career single-season bests in catches (eight) and yards (64) this season. Fournet has been a mainstay on the Dean’s List throughout his collegiate career and has twice been selected CSC Academic All-District.
Jax State defensive end
Emmanuel Oyebadejo, who completed two years of medical school in the U.K. before crossing the pond to pursue football, has a 3.82 GPA in pre-professional biology. A starter in the trenches for the Gamecocks, he leads the team in tackles for loss (6.5) and sacks (4.5), and ranks second in quarterback hurries (five).
Kennesaw State running back
Coleman Bennett features a perfect 4.00 GPA as a master’s candidate in public administration. He is the Owls’ leading rusher on the year with 515 yards and two touchdowns on 109 attempts (4.7 YPC). Bennett’s academic achievements include Top Flight Owl, CUSA Commissioner’s Honor Roll and Arthur Ashe Sports Scholar.
Liberty running back
Evan Dickens owns a 3.73 GPA in business administration and data analytics in addition to being the Flames’ leading rusher. He has rushed for 844 yards and 10 touchdowns on 156 attempts (5.4 YPC). Dickens ranks 14
th nationally in rushing yards per game (93.8) and his 10 touchdowns are tied for 29
th in FBS.
LA Tech’s
Brett Canis, a fourth-year offensive lineman, has seen action in all eight games with two starts at right tackle and is a three-time CUSA Commissioner’s Honor Roll honoree. The Texas native has appeared in 30 games at LA Tech, making five starts. Canis earned a bachelor’s degree in supply chain management and holds a 4.0 GPA in his data analytics graduate program.
A three-time CUSA All-Academic honoree, MTSU quarterback
Nicholas Vattiato maintained a 3.95 GPA in exercise science in undergrad and is now pursuing his MBA. In nine starts this season, he has completed 218-356 passes (61.2%) for 2,150 yards and 16 touchdowns, while rushing for two additional scores. Vattiato is also a three-time recipient of the CUSA Commissioner’s Academic Medal.
NM State tight end
Gavin Harris owns a 3.79 GPA in secondary education and has been recognized on the CUSA Commissioner’s Honor Roll and as a NMSU Crimson Scholar. He leads all CUSA tight ends and ranks sixth among FBS tight ends in receiving yards per game (47.3), having caught 33 passes for 473 yards and a touchdown.
Sam Houston defensive end
Christopher Eaton boasts a perfect 4.00 GPA as a master’s candidate in sport management. He has been one of the league’s top pass rushers as he’s tied for fifth in both tackles for loss (9.0) and sacks (5.0), and he lead the Bearkats with five quarterback hurries. A Hampton transfer, Eaton was twice named to the CAA Commissioner’s Honor Roll.
UTEP cornerback
Neil Campbell has maintained a flawless 4.00 GPA while studying nonprofit administration. In nine games for the Miners, he has racked up 56 total tackles, 6.0 tackles for loss, 2.0 sacks, three pass breakups and a forced fumble. Campbell’s two sacks are the most among CUSA defensive backs.
2025 CUSA Football All-Academic Team
| Name |
Year |
GPA |
Major(s) |
| Kyre Duplessis, Delaware |
Gr. |
3.50 |
Statistics |
| Jake Thaw, Delaware |
Gr. |
3.97 |
International Business |
| Ross Fournet, FIU |
R-Sr. |
3.91 |
Biology/Interdisciplinary Studies |
| Emmanuel Oyebadejo, Jax State |
R-Jr. |
3.82 |
Pre-Professional Biology |
| Coleman Bennett, Kennesaw State |
R-Sr. |
4.00 |
Public Administration |
| Evan Dickens, Liberty |
R-So. |
3.73 |
Business Administration/Data Analytics |
| Brett Canis, LA Tech |
R-Sr. |
4.00 |
Business Data Analytics |
| Nicholas Vattiato, MTSU |
Gr. |
3.95 |
MBA |
| Gavin Harris, NM State |
Jr. |
3.79 |
Secondary Education |
| Christopher Eaton, Sam Houston |
Sr. |
4.00 |
Sport Management |
| Neil Campbell, UTEP |
Gr. |
4.00 |
Nonprofit Administration |