GREENWOOD, Ind. -- Six members of the Washington & Jefferson College football team earned spots on the 2023 College Sports Communicators Academic All-District® Football Teams, which were announced Tuesday by the organization.
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.
Sean Berardino (Millersville, Md./Archbishop Spalding),
Zach Cernuto (Scottdale, Pa./Southmoreland),
Grant Cullen (Pittsburgh, Pa./,
Dawson Dietz (Allison Park, Pa./Hampton),
Justin Johns (Murrysville, Pa./Franklin Regional) and Jake Pugh (Jefferson Hills, Pa./Thomas Jefferson) represented W&J on the list.
Berardino started all 11 games on the defensive side of the ball. Berardino finished with 33 tackles (17 solo, 16 assisted) during the campaign. The junior two-sport athlete added 2.5 tackles for loss and a sack. He posted a career-high eight tackles in W&J's bowl win over USMMA on Nov. 18. Berardino has compiled a 3.69 cumulative grade-point average while majoring in Computing & Information Studies.
Cernuto, an All-PAC First Team pick, accounted for seven touchdowns this season. Five touchdowns came on the ground while Cernuto hauled in a pair of touchdowns. Cernuto earned D3football.com Team of the Week status following a three-touchdown performance against Westminster on Sept. 16. He holds a 3.84 cumulative grade-point average while majoring in Psychology. Cernuto was recognized as the Washington Health System Male Student-Athlete of the Month in October.
Cullen appeared in all 11 games and helped anchor the offensive line from his center position. The junior has compiled a 3.66 cumulative GPA while majoring in Political Science.
Dietz recorded 67 tackles including 10.5 of which went for loss. Dietz finished with 6.5 sacks, two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery this fall. Dietz was twice been named to the D3football.com Team of the Week in 2023. He recorded a career-high 12 tackles in W&J's narrow loss to PAC champion Grove City on Sept. 30. Another marquee effort came in the 2023 ECAC James Lynah Bowl when Dietz finished with 12 tackles, two tackles for loss and sack. Dietz has a 3.71 cumulative GPA while majoring in Business Administration.
Johns, an All-PAC Second Team performer, finished with a team-high 96 tackles including a career-high 20 tackles in an ECAC bowl win over USMMA. Johns had five tackles for loss, two sacks, four pass breakups and two quarterback hurries. Johns had four games with double-digit tackles. Johns, who was a semifinalist for the National Football Foundation Campbell Trophy, maintains a 3.89 GPA in Economics.
Pugh put together a spectacular junior campaign as he finished as the conference leader in passing yards (2,984), touchdowns (38), completion percentage (64.7) and passing efficiency (181.4). The 38 passing TDs ranks ninth in NCAA Division III, his passing efficiency has Pugh ranked ninth in the nation and the junior signal-caller is 16th in passing yards. Pugh started all 11 games for the Presidents this season and threw for 290 or more yards in half of those, marked by a career-high 396 at Grove City Sept. 30. He threw five TDs in the win at Bethany College Sept. 9 and tossed four scoring strikes in victories over Allegheny Oct. 7 and Waynesburg Nov. 11. Pugh earned Offensive Player of the Year honors from both the PAC and ECAC. Pugh holds a 3.54 GPA in Business Administration.
Academic All-District® honorees were considered for advancement to the CSC Academic All-America® ballot. Student-athletes selected as CSC Academic All-America® finalists are denoted with an asterisk below and will advance to the national ballot to be voted on by CSC members. First-, second- and third-team Academic All-America® honorees will be announced Jan. 23, 2024.
To be eligible for CSC Academic All-District®, a student-athlete must be at least a sophomore academically and athletically, hold a cumulative grade point average of 3.50 or higher and be a standout on the field, competing in at least 90 percent of their team's games and starting at least 66 percent of their team's games.
