AUSTIN, Texas – Carson-Newman's football program has had seven student-athletics on College Sports Communicators (formerly CoSIDA) Academic All-District team, the organization announced Tuesday.
Defensive lineman Nick Owens (New Market, Ala.) repeats as a selection, while longsnapper Andrew Bradshaw (China Grove, N.C.), tight end Andrew Coulter (Alcoa, Tenn.), placekicker Christian Erwin (Clover, S.C.), defensive lineman AJ Hunter (Union, S.C.), wide receiver Luke Simpson (Knoxville, Tenn.) and offensive lineman Colt Sinor (Chattanooga, Tenn.) were all recognized for the first time.
The 2022 Academic All-District® Football Teams, selected by College Sports Communicators, 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.
Honorees must carry a 3.50 cumulative GPA to qualify for the award.
Bradshaw continues a long line of all-conference longsnappers. With Bradshaw's selection, Carson-Newman's last three long snappers – a stretch that dates back to 2012 – have all garnered all-league laurels. Dusty Nance and Dawson Campbell both were three-time honorees.
This is Bradshaw's first accolade.
In 22 career games, Bradshaw has only seen two punts or kicks blocked and those attempts were both 50-plus, line-drive field goals that ricocheted off the line seeking extra distance.
In 2022, Bradshaw was one of four South Atlantic Conference snappers who didn't see a punt blocked on the season.
A 15-game starter at tight end for the Carson-Newman football program. Coulter snagged two passes on the season for the Eagles. He had a 28-yard reception against UVA Wise.
A secondary tackle for the Carson-Newman offensive line, Coulter helped clear the way for four Eagles to rush for more than 400 yards and two to earn All-SAC honors.
Additionally, Carson-Newman ranked second in the SAC in fewest tackles for loss allowed and only gave up 1.5 sacks per game on the season.
Erwin started the year exclusively on kickoffs before taking over field goal and PAT duties in the back half of the year.
A field position weapon, Erwin blasted 32 kickoffs for touchbacks out of his 56 tries – a rate of 57 percent.
As a result of his kicks, Carson-Newman's opponents' average starting field position was the 25.6 yard line.
Erwin was third on the team in scoring. He nailed four of his seven field goals and 19-of-20 PATs.
Three of Erwin's four makes were from greater than 35 yards, including two, season-long 42-yard tries against Erskine.
He made three field goals against the Flying Fleet.
Hunter came into his own on the defensive line, especially late in his senior season. The Union, S.C.-native tallied 15 tackles on the season and appeared in every game, with a start on Senior Day against UVA Wise. He topped out at three tackles against Lenoir-Rhyne.
A pass-rush specialist on the defensive line for the Eagles, the fox end tallied 14 tackles, with four coming behind the line of scrimmage. He also had a sack and a half plus a fumble recovery. He recovered his fumble off a strip sack against Mars Hill. He had his most productive day with two stops behind the line of scrimmage against Limestone.
A reliable slot receiver, Simpson ranked second on the team with 13 catches and fourth in receiving yards with 134. He caught two touchdowns on the season. He found the end zone against both Limestone and UVA Wise. Simpson wrapped up his career with a career-high 42 yards receiving and a career-long 27-yard catch.
The sophomore offensive lineman fully recovered from stage-four testicular cancer to earn Academic All-District honors. The utility knife of an offensive lineman started five games at left guard and a game at center.
He helped clear the way for four Eagles to rush for more than 400 yards and two to earn All-SAC honors.
Additionally, Carson-Newman ranked second in the SAC in fewest tackles for loss allowed and only gave up 1.5 sacks per game on the season.
Academic All-District® honorees advance to the CSC Academic All-America® ballot. First- and second-team Academic All-America® honorees will be announced in late December
