Kentucky leads nation with six selections
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Six Kentucky football players – Abule Abadi-Fitzgerald, Luke Fortner, Colin Goodfellow, Josh Paschal, Matt Ruffolo and Quintin Wilson – have been named to the 2021 Academic All-District® Football Team, selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA), it was announced today. The award recognizes the nation’s top student-athletes for their combined performances on the field and in the classroom. The six selections are tied for most in the nation on with Cincinnati.
The CoSIDA Academic All‐America® program separately recognizes football honorees in four divisions — NCAA Division I, NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III and NAIA. First‐team Academic All‐District® honorees advance to the CoSIDA Academic All‐America® ballot. First‐ and second‐team Academic All‐America® honorees will be announced in mid‐December.
Abadi-Fitzgerald, a senior defensive tackle from Lakeland, Florida and originally of Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, Nigeria, is a three-time SEC Fall Academic Honor Roll member who graduated in May of 2021 with a degree in communication. He is currently working on an undergraduate certificate in digital design literacy. He was also named to the CoSIDA Academic All-District Team in 2020.
Fortner is “super senior” and center from Sylvania, Ohio who graduated in December of 2019 with a degree in mechanical engineering. He has also finished his requirements for a master’s degree in mechanical engineering and is on track to graduate in December of 2021. He is currently working on a second master’s degree in business administration from UK’s prestigious Gatton College of Business and Economics. Fortner is a five-time member of the SEC Academic Honor Roll and was named to the CoSIDA All-District team last season as well.
Goodfellow is a “super senior” and punter from Cleveland, Ohio. The three-time SEC Fall Academic Honor Roll member graduated in May of 2021 with a nursing degree and is currently working on a second degree in kinesiology and health promotion.
Paschal, a senior defensive end from Prince George’s County, Maryland, graduated in May of 2021 with a degree in family science and a minor in health promotion and is currently working on a second degree in communication. The two-time SEC Fall Academic Honor Roll member was on the CoSIDA All-District Team in 2020 and is a semifinalist for the Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year award for the second straight season.
Ruffolo is a “super senior” and kicker from Centerville, Ohio. He graduated in May of 2021 with a degree in finance and is currently working on his MBA at UK’s Gatton College of Business and Economics. He’s also a three-time SEC Fall Academic Honor Roll member.
Wilson, a junior offensive lineman from Cincinnati,graduated in December of 2020 with a degree in management. He completed his bachelor’s degree in two and one-half years with the help of advanced placement credits earned in high school. The three-time SEC Fall Academic Honor Roll member is currently working on his MBA at UK’s Gatton College of Business and Economics.
For more information about CoSIDA’s Academic All‐District® and Academic All‐America® Teams program, visit AcademicAllAmerica.com on CoSIDA.com.
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