Six from Golden Bear Football Named to 2024 CSC Academic All-District Team

The PSAC champion Kutztown University football team had six players honored as part of the 2024 College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-District Team. Academic All-District selections from the Golden Bears include wide receiver Trevor Amorim (Slatington, Pa./Northern Lehigh), linebacker Jalen DeVose (Lansdale, Pa./La Salle College H.S.), linebacker Austin Leyman (Elmer, N.J./Woodstown), quarterback Judd Novak (Manheim, Pa./Manheim Central), offensive lineman Trey Quinones (York, Pa./William Penn) and defensive lineman Freddie Retter (Quakertown, Pa./Quakertown).

The CSC Academic All-District teams recognize the nation's top student-athletes for their combined performances on the field and in the classroom.

To be eligible for Academic All-District honors, student-athletes must have reached sophomore status academically and athletically and hold a 3.50 or greater cumulative grade point average. On the field, nominees must compete in 90% of their team's games or be a starter in at least 66% of their team's games.

Amorim is a business administration major with an entrepreneurship focus. The junior and Slatington, Pa., native holds a 3.54 GPA. In 11 games this fall, Amorim totaled eight catches for 152 yards and a touchdown.

DeVose, a graduate student from Lansdale, Pa., is currently pursuing his Master of Business Administration after earning his bachelor's degree in psychology. He posted a 3.38 undergraduate GPA and had a 4.00 graduate GPA at the time of his nomination. DeVose started all 12 games for the 11-1 Golden Bears, making 57 tackles (26 solo) to go along with 7.0 tackles for loss and 0.5 sacks. He also recovered a pair of fumbles and returned an interception for a touchdown at Millersville on Nov. 2. DeVose was an All-PSAC East First Team and D2CCA All-Super Region 1 Second Team selection for the first time in his career. He is appearing on the CSC Academic All-District Team for the second year in a row.

Leyman is majoring in secondary education (social studies), where he carries a 3.60 GPA. The native of Elmer, N.J., appeared in all 12 games for the Maroon and Gold, collecting 23 tackles (13 solo) and a sack.

Novak guided the Golden Bear offense for the second year in a row, throwing for 2,004 yards and 20 touchdowns, while running for 433 yards and four additional scores on his way to earning All-PSAC East Second Team honors. The Manheim, Pa., product and redshirt sophomore is majoring in sport management and holds a 3.62 GPA.

Quinones is a repeat CSC Academic All-District selection. The senior from York, Pa., has a 3.68 GPA and is a criminal justice major. Quinones centered an offensive line that helped KU average 30.0 points per game and better than 163 rushing yards per contest. The Bears allowed the second fewest sacks in the PSAC and 14th fewest in DII at 0.92 per game. Kutztown also ranked second in the PSAC in scoring offense and third in rushing offense. Quinones was named All-PSAC East Second Team.

Retter had a breakout season with career-highs of 22 solo tackles (43 total), 13 tackles for loss, 7.5 sacks, two fumbles forced, two fumbles recovered and three blocked kicks. The Quakertown, Pa., native was the 2024 PSAC East Defensive Athlete of the Year and D2CCA Super Region 1 Defensive Player of the Year. Retter captured all-conference and all-region First Team accolades while leading the PSAC in blocked kicks and ranking in the top five in fumbles recovered and sacks per game (0.68). He ranked within the top 25 in NCAA Division II in all three categories. Retter, a redshirt sophomore, is an elementary education (math & science) major with a 3.97 GPA.

Based on their academic and athletic achievements, DeVose and Retter were selected as finalists for Academic All-America honors by CSC. The national ballot will be voted on by CSC members and Academic All-America teams will be announced Jan. 28.