Bowling Green, KY – Coming off their fifth straight winning season, the Patriots football team shine in the classroom as 26 student-athletes were named the Mid-South Conference Academic All-Conference Team, announced by the conference office Wednesday.  Cumberlands had the fourth most recipients in the conference and second most in the Bluegrass Division.

It marks the fifth straight year that at least 20 student-athletes UC earned academic all-conference honors and it's the fourth time in the past five years the Patriots finished with 26 honorees.

Leading the way for UC are Keshawn Catlett and Ben Watson, who become four-time academic all-conference selections.  The duo becomes just the fourth and fifth Patriot to become a four-time academic all-conference honoree. 

The Patriots also had five players earn this award for the third time in the careers.  Brandon Day, J.R. Lucas, Zach Rutherford, Myles Simon and Kevin Whitson Jr. received this honor in each of the past three seasons.  Kendall Adams-Young, Jon Brooks, Tucker Brown, Jalen Clements, Mitchell McKenzie, and AP Parham are all multi-time academic all-conference selections. 

In addition to those returners on the list Seth Adams, Myles Boyd, Nick Buzzell, Adam Caudle, Adam Chaney, Eli Evans, Phillip Garner, Keegan Hansford, Connor Mayfield, Chase Parmelee, Trace Sexton, Micah Swim and Bryson Williams are the Patriots newest addition to the list.

Additionally, Patriots junior captain Jackson Norton was Cumberlands representative on the Champion of Character team selected by each school's head coach.  Norton is a three-time all-conference offensive lineman for UC and has been a steady presence throughout his career.

In total 362 student-athletes from across the MSC earned Academic All-Conference honors. 

The Patriots finished the season 6-4 overall.  The Mid-South Conference is scheduled to release the All-Conference selections for the Bluegrass Division on Thursday.

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