AUSTIN, Texas – Alabama A&M Athletics continues to make history in the 2020-21 season as junior defensive end
Marcus Cushine (West Palm Beach, Fla.) has been named a Second-Team CoSIDA Football Academic All-America selection and is one of the 51 best student-athletes in the nation in his sport as announced by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) on Monday, July 12.
Selected by position, his 3.8 Grade Point Average ranks as the third highest among the eight defensive lineman selected and he is the only FCS player to be named to that group. Additionally, he is one of just 10 FCS players selected as an Academic All-America this year and one of only two from a Historically Black College or University (HBCU). The other is Alabama State running back Ezra Gray who was named to the First-Team.
Cushine joins a very select group in Alabama A&M history as he is just the fourth individual to be named a CoSIDA Academic All-America in school history and one of only five such selections in the 69-year history of the award for the program. He joins women's basketball's Dariauna Lewis (2020-21, Third-Team) and football's Tim McCannelly (1979-80, Second-Team) and Tracy Kendall (1989-90 and 1990-91, First-Team) as the only individuals to reach those lofty heights.
With the selection of both Lewis and Cushine this year, 2020-21 marks the first year that the Bulldogs have had multiple honorees and also continues the program's streak of each Academic All-District selection going on to earn Academic All-America recognition. Both Cushine and Lewis are the first to earn the honor in their sport at the NCAA Division I level and snapped a 29-year drought for the program.
Selected to the First-Team at the defensive line position were Thomas Booker (3.88, Stanford), Matt Henningsen (4.0, Wisconsin), Tarron Jackson (3.43, Coastal Carolina) and Kingsley Jonathan (3.71, Syracuse). Joining Cushine on the Second-Team were Tyriq Harris (3.65, Charlotte), Nick Heninger (4.0/3.4, Utah State) and Juwuan Jones (3.75/4.0, Western Kentucky).
CUSHINE'S CAREER CREDENTIALS
With the COVID-19 impacted season, CoSIDA made the decision to evaluate nominees by career statistics and accomplishments rather than just the 2020-21 campaign.
With his degree in hand, Cushine is a two-time SWAC Commissioner's Honor Roll selection (2019, 2020) and three-time A&M Athletic Directors Honor Roll choice in 2018, 2019 and 2020.
On the field, he was among the very best at his position in Spring 2021, finishing second in the nation at the FCS level with seven sacks to go with 20 tackles (14 solo) at five per game, as well as a pair of quarterback hurries. For his career he has 16 sacks and 68 tackles, 45 of which have been solo and 25 that have been for loss as well as a pair of pass breakups and a 53-yard fumble recovery for touchdown in a 48-43 win vs. Jackson State on November 9, 2019.
Cushine's career has also garnered a number of honors, including three All-American selections and five All-Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) nods. He was named a BOXTOROW First-Team All-American following the Spring 2021 season, Honorable Mention in 2019 and Preseason prior to this past season and was All-SWAC in S2021 and 2019 as well as a Preseason selection this past spring. He was also named All-SWAC by Phil Steele in 2019 and was chosen to the latter's S2021 Preseason First-Team.
He would deliver three of his five career multi sack games during the unique Spring 2021 campaign but would save his best for last as he recorded a career-high 12 tackles in a thrilling 40-33 victory over No. 25 Arkansas-Pine Bluff (5/1) in the SWAC Championship Game. That effort secured the program's first overall league title since 2006, the first undefeated season (5-0, 3-0 SWAC) in 53 years and the first official HBCU National Championship in school history.
The first defensive player ever to earn Academic All-America honors for the football program, Cushine will continue his career as a graduate transfer at Florida State in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC).
ABOUT THE COSIDA ACADEMIC ALL-AMERICA PROGRAM
The 2020-21 CoSIDA Academic All-America Football Teams, selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America, have been released to recognize the nation's top student-athletes for their combined performances athletically and in the classroom.
To be eligible for Academic All-District and All-America consideration, a student-athlete must be a varsity starter or key reserve, maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.30 on a scale of 4.00, have reached sophomore athletic and academic standings at his/her current institution and be nominated by his/her sports information director. Since the program's inception in 1952, CoSIDA has bestowed Academic All-America honors on more than 20,000 student-athletes in Divisions I, II, III and NAIA, covering all NCAA championship sports.
2020-21 CoSIDA Academic All-America Football Teams
FIRST-TEAM
| Pos. |
Name |
School |
Yr. |
GPA |
Major |
| QB |
Mac Jones |
Alabama |
Gr. |
4.0/4.0 |
Communication Studies (UG)/Sports Hospitality (G) |
| RB |
Jake Chisholm |
Dayton |
Jr. |
3.98 |
Pre-Med |
| RB |
Ezra Gray |
Alabama State |
Gr. |
4.0/4.0 |
CIS (UG)/Applied Technologies (G) |
| WR |
Britain Covey |
Utah |
Sr. |
3.86 |
Business |
| WR |
Austin Williams |
Mississippi State |
Gr. |
4.0/4.0 |
Finance (UG)/MBA (G) |
| TE |
Charlie Kolar (1) |
Iowa State |
Sr. |
3.99 |
Mechanical Engineering |
| OL |
Blaise Andries |
Minnesota |
Sr. |
3.85 |
Mathematics |
| OL |
Mike Caliendo |
Western Michigan |
Gr. |
3.90/3.88 |
Biological Sciences |
| OL |
Harry Crider |
Indiana |
Gr. |
3.90/3.96 |
Criminal Justice & Public Safety |
| OL |
Landon Dickerson |
Alabama |
Gr. |
3.68/3.72 |
Sports Mgmt. (UG)/MBA (G) |
| OL |
Wes Genant |
South Dakota State |
Sr. |
3.89 |
Biochemistry/Pre-Medicine |
| K |
Anders Carlson |
Auburn |
Gr. |
3.92 |
Pro Flight Management/Aviation |
| DL |
Thomas Booker |
Stanford |
Jr. |
3.88 |
Economics/Communication |
| DL |
Matt Henningsen |
Wisconsin |
Gr. |
4.0 |
Electrical Engineering |
| DL |
Tarron Jackson |
Coastal Carolina |
Sr. |
3.43 |
Mathematics |
| DL |
Kingsley Jonathan |
Syracuse |
Sr. |
3.71 |
Information Management & Technology |
| LB |
Silas Kelly |
Coastal Carolina |
Gr. |
3.85/3.84 |
MBA |
| LB |
Rick Mottram |
Bucknell |
Sr. |
3.96 |
Mechanical Engineering |
| LB |
Riley Whimpey |
Boise State |
Sr. |
3.82 |
Business |
| DB |
Spencer DeMedal |
Duquesne |
Sr. |
3.97 |
Biology |
| DB |
Robby Hauck |
Montana |
Sr. |
3.95 |
Management Info. Systems |
| DB |
Kekaula Kaniho |
Boise State |
Sr. |
3.96 |
Health Science |
| DB |
K.J. Smith |
North Alabama |
Gr. |
4.0/4.0 |
Health (G) |
| P |
John Haggerty III |
Western Kentucky |
Gr. |
4.0/4.0 |
Organizational Leadership (G) |
| ST |
Tyler Gillikin |
Northwestern |
Gr. |
3.98 |
Biomedical Sciences (UG)/Medical School (G) |
SECOND-TEAM
| Pos. |
Name |
School |
Yr. |
GPA |
Major |
| QB |
Brock Purdy |
Iowa State |
Jr. |
3.66 |
Business |
| RB |
Jermar Jefferson |
Oregon State |
Jr. |
3.49 |
Sociology |
| RB |
Charles Williams |
UNLV |
Gr. |
3.41/3.45 |
Journalism & Media Studies (UG)/General Studies (G) |
| WR |
Thomas Hennigan |
Appalachian State |
Sr. |
3.53 |
Marketing & Sales |
| WR |
Tyler Page |
Southern Methodist |
Sr. |
3.92 |
Finance |
| TE |
Logan Carter |
Oklahoma State |
Gr. |
3.72/4.0 |
Health Care Administration (G) |
| OL |
Drew Dalman |
Stanford |
Sr. |
3.61 |
Mechanical Engineering |
| OL |
Jake Dixon |
Duquesne |
Gr. |
3.96/4.0 |
Accounting |
| OL |
Drew Himmelman |
Illinois State |
Gr. |
3.82/4.0 |
Exercise Science (UG)/Biomechanics (G) |
| OL |
Austin Stidham |
Troy |
Sr. |
3.91 |
Biology/Biomedical Sciences |
| OL |
Mike Van Hoeven |
Eastern Michigan |
Gr. |
4.0/4.0 |
Exercise Physiology |
| K |
Jet Toner |
Stanford |
Gr. |
3.65/3.87 |
Science, Tech. & Society (UG)/Media Studies (G) |
| DL |
Marcus Cushine |
Alabama A&M |
Jr. |
3.80 |
Criminal Justice |
| DL |
Tyriq Harris |
Charlotte |
Sr. |
3.65 |
Biology/Pre-Bus Admin |
| DL |
Nick Heninger |
Utah State |
Gr. |
4.0/3.40 |
Unmanned Aerial Systems |
| DL |
Juwuan Jones |
Western Kentucky |
Gr. |
3.75/4.0 |
Sport Mgmt. (UG)/Teaching, Special Ed (G) |
| LB |
Logan Backhaus |
South Dakota State |
Sr. |
3.65 |
Human Biology |
| LB |
Nick Bolton |
Missouri |
Jr. |
3.60 |
Parks, Recreation & Sport/Sport Management |
| LB |
Ryan Greenhagen |
Fordham |
Jr. |
3.83 |
Business Administration |
| DB |
Bryce Cosby |
Ball State |
Sr. |
3.44 |
Telecommunications |
| DB |
Pat Fields |
Oklahoma |
Jr. |
3.81 |
Accounting |
| DB |
Sean Mahone |
West Virginia |
Gr. |
3.60/3.69 |
Management Information Systems (UG)/MBA (G) |
| DB |
Jalen Pitre |
Baylor |
Gr. |
3.61/3.61 |
Educational Psychology |
| DB |
Noah Williams |
Stanford |
Sr. |
3.90 |
Product Design |
| P |
James Smith |
Cincinnati |
Sr. |
3.84 |
Communication |
| ST |
Kyle Gibbs |
U.S. Naval Academy |
Sr. |
3.87 |
Ocean Engineering |
Alabama A&M History of Academic All-America Selections (5 Selections/4 Individuals)
2020-21 – Marcus Cushine (Football) – Second-Team
2020-21 – Dariauna Lewis (Women's Basketball) – Third-Team
1990-91 – Tracy Kendall (Football) – First-Team
1989-90 – Tracy Kendall (Football) – First-Team
1979-80 – Tim McCannelly (Football) – Second-Team
