CSC Academic All-District Teams

SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. – The Slippery Rock University football team placed six players on the College Sports Communicators Academic All-District team and will have four players advance to the Academic All-America ballot according to an announcement from CSC Tuesday.
 
In order to be eligible for nomination to the Academic All-District team, student-athletes must be at least sophomores in athletic eligibility and academic standing, must have at least a 3.50 cumulative GPA for all undergraduate and graduate classes and must appear in at least 90 percent of the team's games or start in at least 66 percent of the games. In order to be advanced to the Academic All-America ballot, student-athletes must have significant athletic credentials, such as earning All-Conference, All-Region or All-America caliber awards.
 
Slippery Rock landed six players on the Academic All-District squad with quarterback Brayden Long, offensive tackle Yuriy Hryckowian, safety Eddie Faulkner IV, cornerback Josh Stokes, tight end Nathan Waltman and defensive back Michael Henwood being recognized.
 
Long, Hryckowian, Faulkner and Stokes were all moved to the Academic All-America ballot due to their accolades earned on the field this year.
 
Faulkner, Hryckowian and Waltman are all repeat selections to the Academic All-District team, while Long, Stokes and Henwood are all first-time honorees.
 
Long, a senior in academic standing and a junior in athletic eligibility from Hanover, Pennsylvania, owns a perfect 4.0 GPA with more than 100 credits earned as a sport management major, He was one of the nine national finalists for the 2023 Harlon Hill Trophy as the Division II Player of the Year and finished fifth in the voting for that honor after being named the Super Region One Offensive Player of the Year and the PSAC West Offensive Athlete of the Year. Long was also named the PSAC Champion Scholar Award winner for owning the highest GPA in the PSAC title game, making him the first player in conference history to ever be named the Champion Scholar Award winner and an Athlete of the Year. On the field this fall, Long led the PSAC in every passing category and ranked in the top 10 nationally after completing 69 percent of his passes for 3,808 yards with 35 touchdowns and just six interceptions. He also rushed for five touchdowns and finished the year ranked No. 2 all-time at SRU in single-season passing yards and TDs.
 
Hryckowian, a graduate student from Chalfont, Pennsylvania, owns a perfect 4.0 GPA for his graduate coursework in the MBA program after finishing his undergraduate degree in business administration with a 3.69 GPA. The Rock's starting left tackle for 34 games, including all 14 this year, Hryckowian was one of the nine national finalists for the 2023 Gene Upshaw Division II Lineman of the Year Award, where he finished third overall in the voting and second among all offensive linemen. He was named to both the Associated Press and Division II Conference Commissioner's Association All-America teams after also earning first team All-Region and All-PSAC honors. The Rock's offensive line ranked in the top 10 this season in fewest sacks and tackles for loss allowed while blocking for an offense that ranked in the top 10 in nearly every major stat category.
 
Faulkner, a junior from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, owns a 3.57 GPA while majoring in sport management. He was named to first team All-America honors by the Division II Conference Commissioner's Association after also picking up first team All-Region and first team All-PSAC honors. On the field, he led Slippery Rock with 4.5 sacks and three forced fumbles while ranking second on the team with four interceptions and fifth in total tackles with 63 stops. Faulkner tallied 6.0 tackles for loss, one fumble recovery and three pass breakups as well.
 
Stokes, a junior from Huntingtown, Maryland, owns a 3.70 GPA while majoring in political science with a minor in homeland security. He picked up All-America honors by both the Associated Press and the Division II Conference Commissioner's Association after also being named to first team All-Region honors at the cornerback position. On the field, Stokes led SRU with five interceptions, 11 pass breakups and 16 total passes defended. He also led the team with 52 solo tackles and ranked third on the squad in total tackles with 83 stops. Stokes also blocked one kick, recovered one fumble and tallied 2.0 tackles for loss on the year.
 
Waltman, a junior accounting major from Fenelton, Pennsylvania, owns a perfect 4.0 GPA. Primarily a blocking tight end, Waltman appeared in all 14 games this season and finished the year with five catches for 40 yards and one touchdown, which marked his first collegiate score. He helped The Rock rush for a total of 2,590 yards and 42 touchdowns this season while teaming with All-Region tight end Kam Kruzelyak in "12 personnel" packages.
 
Henwood, a junior exercise science major from Hermitage, Pennsylvania, owns a perfect 4.0 GPA. A defensive back and special teams standout, Henwood appeared in 13 games in 2023 and finished the year with 14 total tackles and two forced fumbles to go along with a half-tackle for loss.
 
Slippery Rock finished the year ranked No. 10 in the Division II national rankings after posting a 12-2 overall record and reaching the national quarterfinals for the third time in the last five seasons.
 
The CSC Academic All-America team will be announced Jan. 23, 2024 after voting by the nation's athletic communication professionals.
 

 
 
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