Central Michigan University Athletics
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Six Chippewas Earn CSC Academic All-District Honors
12/23/2023 12:17:00 PM | Football
Central Michigan’s Dakota Cochran, Jordan Kwiatkowski, Thomas Pannunzio, Brayden Swartout, Ben Pratt and Marcus Young now have the opportunity to earn CSC Academic All-America honors.
MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich.—Six Central Michigan football student-athletes—sophomore linebacker Dakota Cochran, sophomore linebacker Jordan Kwaitkowski, senior wide receiver Thomas Pannunzio, junior offensive lineman Brayden Swartout, sophomore long snapper Ben Pratt, and sophomore tight end Marcus Young—were named to the College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-District football team, the organization announced earlier this week. All six players are now eligible for Academic All-America honors.
To be nominated for the team, student-athletes must accumulate a cumulative GPA at or above 3.50 while being a starter or key reserve. For football specifically, a player must have competed in 90 percent of the team's games or have started at least 66 percent of the squad's contests. A list of all student-athletes who earned Academic All-District honors are posted at this link.
A Shaker Heights, Ohio native, Cochran ranked No. 5 on the team in tackles with 51 (31 solo) with 2.0 tackles for loss, one interception for a nine yard return, one pass breakup and two quarterback hurries. He started xx of his 12 games played and totaled a career-high 10 tackles (five solo) vs. Akron. In his three-year career, Cochran has totaled 80 tackles (51 solo), 4.5 tackles for loss, 1.0 sack, one interception, and six pass breakups. Cochran is a Sport Management major.
Kwiatkowski, a Sterling Heights, Mich., native, finished the season with 32 tackles (17 solo), 0.5 tackles for loss, and one quarterback hurry from his linebacker post. He also saw extensive action on special teams and played in 11 of CMU's 12 games. Kwiatkowski has seen action in 22 career games with 42 tackles (21 solo), 0.5 tackles for loss, three pass breakups and a blocked kick. He also plays an extensive role on special teams and has returned a punt, and three kickoffs in his career.
A Pueblo, Colo. native, Pannunzio transferred to Central Michigan for his final year of eligibility. As a wide receiver, he caught 12 passes for 99 yards (8.25 average) and scored one touchdown, and rushed three times for 30 yards while seeing action in all 12 games. Pannunzio is a Communications major.
An Essexville, Mich. native, Swartout earns the honor for a second consecutive season. He also earned Second Team All-MAC honors for the first time in his career and was recently named to the Phil Steele Magazine All-MAC Fourth Team. Swartout started all 12 games at right tackle and was part of CMU's offensive line that allowed just 26 sacks on the year. Over his three-year career, Swartout has seen action in 28 games and started 25 consecutive contests. He also served as a team captain in three games and is a Professional Sales major.
The Normal, Ill. native, Pratt served as CMU's long snapper through 12 games. He snapped 62 punts, 33 point after attempts, and 14 field goals. He has played in 12 career games and is a Sport Management major.
Young, a Dexter, Mich. native, saw action in all 12 games at tight end. Young served primarily as a blocker on offense and on special teams. Over his 24-game career, Young has caught three passes for 16 yards. Young is a Law and Economics major.
Formerly, the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA), the CSC made changes to its national program this year with the minimum grade-point average rising from 3.00 to 3.50 and the elimination of all-district voting, meaning the maximum number of Central Michigan qualified players automatically earn all-district accolades and advance to the national ballot for the prestigious CSC Academic All-America honor. The national honors will see voted athletes receive spots on first, second, and third-teams this year.
Several other Central Michigan football players were nominated for the honor.
To be nominated for the team, student-athletes must accumulate a cumulative GPA at or above 3.50 while being a starter or key reserve. For football specifically, a player must have competed in 90 percent of the team's games or have started at least 66 percent of the squad's contests. A list of all student-athletes who earned Academic All-District honors are posted at this link.
A Shaker Heights, Ohio native, Cochran ranked No. 5 on the team in tackles with 51 (31 solo) with 2.0 tackles for loss, one interception for a nine yard return, one pass breakup and two quarterback hurries. He started xx of his 12 games played and totaled a career-high 10 tackles (five solo) vs. Akron. In his three-year career, Cochran has totaled 80 tackles (51 solo), 4.5 tackles for loss, 1.0 sack, one interception, and six pass breakups. Cochran is a Sport Management major.
Kwiatkowski, a Sterling Heights, Mich., native, finished the season with 32 tackles (17 solo), 0.5 tackles for loss, and one quarterback hurry from his linebacker post. He also saw extensive action on special teams and played in 11 of CMU's 12 games. Kwiatkowski has seen action in 22 career games with 42 tackles (21 solo), 0.5 tackles for loss, three pass breakups and a blocked kick. He also plays an extensive role on special teams and has returned a punt, and three kickoffs in his career.
A Pueblo, Colo. native, Pannunzio transferred to Central Michigan for his final year of eligibility. As a wide receiver, he caught 12 passes for 99 yards (8.25 average) and scored one touchdown, and rushed three times for 30 yards while seeing action in all 12 games. Pannunzio is a Communications major.
An Essexville, Mich. native, Swartout earns the honor for a second consecutive season. He also earned Second Team All-MAC honors for the first time in his career and was recently named to the Phil Steele Magazine All-MAC Fourth Team. Swartout started all 12 games at right tackle and was part of CMU's offensive line that allowed just 26 sacks on the year. Over his three-year career, Swartout has seen action in 28 games and started 25 consecutive contests. He also served as a team captain in three games and is a Professional Sales major.
The Normal, Ill. native, Pratt served as CMU's long snapper through 12 games. He snapped 62 punts, 33 point after attempts, and 14 field goals. He has played in 12 career games and is a Sport Management major.
Young, a Dexter, Mich. native, saw action in all 12 games at tight end. Young served primarily as a blocker on offense and on special teams. Over his 24-game career, Young has caught three passes for 16 yards. Young is a Law and Economics major.
Formerly, the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA), the CSC made changes to its national program this year with the minimum grade-point average rising from 3.00 to 3.50 and the elimination of all-district voting, meaning the maximum number of Central Michigan qualified players automatically earn all-district accolades and advance to the national ballot for the prestigious CSC Academic All-America honor. The national honors will see voted athletes receive spots on first, second, and third-teams this year.
Several other Central Michigan football players were nominated for the honor.
—CMU—
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