Springfield, Mass. – January 5, 2024 – Eight student-athletes from the Springfield College football program were recently named to the College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-District Team for their efforts on the field and in the classroom this year.

The 2023 Academic All-District® Football teams, selected by College Sports Communicators (CSC), recognize the nation's top student-athletes for their combined performances on the field and in the classroom. The CSC Academic All-America® program separately recognizes football honorees in four divisions — NCAA Division I, NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III, and NAIA. In order to be eligible, a student-athlete must have a grade point average of 3.50 or higher, compete in 90-percent of the team's games played or start in at least 66-percent of the team's games over the course of the season.

Of this year's eight selections, only junior defensive back Tyler Pohlman (St. James, N.Y.) is a repeat honoree. Graduate student Joseph Cannizzaro (Lincoln Park, N.J.), seniors TJ Dipasquale (Wallingford, Conn.), Billy Carr (Southington, Conn.), Arsen Shtefan (West Hartford, Conn.), Joe Maurer (Wilbraham, Mass.) and Thomas Evans (Hookset, N.H.) as well as junior Will McKay (Tewksbury, Mass.) are all first time CSC Academic All-District selections.

Shtefan, Maurer and Evans will appear on the national ballot for consideration for CSC Academic All-America honors, which will be voted on by the members of the organization and be released on January 23, 2024.

Shtefan, the 2023 NEWMAC Offensive Player of the Year and D3football.com All-Region First Team honoree, has a 3.57 grade point average as a business management major. The senior carried the ball 216 times for 1,272 total yards, averaging just under six yards per carry. The fullback found the end zone nine times including twice against both Husson on September 9 and Norwich on November 4. 

Maurer, a D3football.com All-Region Third Team selection and NEWMAC First Team All-Conference honoree, sports a 3.69 grade point average as a sport management major at Springfield College. The senior defensive back anchored the Pride's secondary with a career-high 52 tackles to go along with a forced fumble and interception in 2023.

Dipasquale, a 2023 D3football.com All-Region Second Team and NEWMAC First Team All-Conference award winner, has a 3.57 grade point average as a physical education major on Alden Street, while Evans, a 2023 D3football.com All-American, D3football.com All-Region selection and NEWMAC First Team All-Conference honoree, sports a 3.59 grade point average as a criminal justice major. Dipasquale and Evans led an offensive line that rushed for over 380 yards per game, which ranked tops in Division III and second in all of college football. They helped pave the way for the Pride's offense, which was in the top 10 nationally in time of possession, tackles for loss allowed, fourth down conversion percentage, and passing yards per completion.

Pohlman, a physical therapy major with a 3.91 grade point average, appeared in all 11 games as a defensive back for Springfield this fall. The junior, who also earned a spot on the New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) Academic All-Conference squad, produced 34 tackles and four pass breakups in 2023.

McKay, a 2023 NEWMAC Second Team All-Conference selection and Academic All-Conference honoree, sports a 3.59 grade point average as an applied exercise science major. The linebacker registered 51 tackles on the season to go along with 8.5 tackles for a loss, four sacks, two interceptions and forced a pair of fumbles for the Pride in 2023.

Cannizzaro, a graduate student full back for the Pride, has a 3.64 grade point average as a sport management major at Springfield. Cannizzaro tallied 597 rushing yards and four total touchdowns on the year for the Pride.

Carr, a NEWMAC All-Conference First Team honoree and NEWMAC Academic All-Conference selection, sports a 3.62 grade point average as a health science major. At the linebacker position, Carr registered 51 tackles, 4.5 tackles for a loss, 2.5 sacks and forced a fumble for the Pride in 2023.

These eight student-athletes guided Springfield to its third straight NEWMAC Championship and another appearance in the NCAA Division III Championship Tournament this season as one of the top teams in the New England region.

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