Wilborn Named to FCS ADA Academic All-Star Team; Six Beacons Earn CSC Academic All-District Honors
Valparaiso University football redshirt senior De’Andre Wilborn (Chicago, Ill. / Westinghouse [Georgetown]) was named to the FCS Academic All-Star Team on Tuesday, while six Beacons achieved College Sports Communicators Academic All-District honors – redshirt sophomore defensive lineman Isaiah Fowler (Gary, Ind. / Chesterton), redshirt sophomore offensive lineman Brendan Mcilvenna (Carmel, Ind. / Guerin Catholic), junior offensive lineman Noah Kline (Loveland, Ohio / Loveland), redshirt junior offensive lineman Niko Paic (Crown Point, Ind. / Crown Point), redshirt junior quarterback Rowan Keefe (Park Ridge, Ill. / Maine South) and redshirt junior defensive lineman Matt Molnar (Avon Lake, Ohio / Saint Edward).
Wilborn is one of three Pioneer Football League representatives on the 28th annual FCS ADA Academic All-Star Team, joining Chris Leonardo (Marist) and Brett Welsing (Drake) among the 57 total student-athletes honored. Wilborn, who owns a 3.8 GPA toward his master’s in sports administration, was also a semifinalist for the prestigious Campbell Trophy and earned Academic All-PFL First Team honors this season. He started all 12 games on Valpo’s defensive line this season, totaling 51 tackles.
Paic (finance) and Kline (computer engineering) were both repeat CSC Academic All-District honorees, leading a group that also includes Fowler (communication), Mcilvenna (finance), Keefe (marketing) and Molnar (finance) who meet CSC academic all-district standards by virtue of having a cumulative grade point average of 3.5 or better. To qualify for the honor, individuals must also be starters or important reserves, have competed in at least 90 percent of their team’s games or started at least 66 percent of their team’s games and have reached at least sophomore academic and athletic status.
