GREENWOOD, Ind. -- University of St. Francis football student-athletes Sam Tumilty, Joey Tumilty, Pat Strocchia, Nick Mabutas, Curtis Reeves, Marcello Bernardi, Rylan Heersink and Jason Hartsfield have been named to the 2024 College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-District Football Team, it has been announced by the CSC organization.

The award recognizes the nation's top student-athletes for their combined performances on the field and in the classroom.  To be eligible, student-athletes must be at least a sophomore both athletically and academically and boast no less than a 3.50 cumulative grade point average, while performing at an elite athletic level.  Academic All-District honorees are considered for advancement to the CSC Academic All-America ballot.

The award represents the second such academic recognition for all eight players this year.  Earlier this fall, they were all named NAIA Scholar-Athletes.  Other recognition bestowed upon Sam Tumilty, Joey Tumilty, Strocchia, Mabutas and Reeves this past season included Mid-States Football Association (MSFA) all-conference commendations.  Sam Tumilty also received Offensive Player of the Week accolades from the conference four times this season and was named the MSFA Offensive Player of the Year for the third time in four years.  He secured a NAIA All-America Third Team nod, as well.

Sam Tumilty had another stellar season highlighted by setting a new school single-season record with his 23 rushing touchdowns.  That also was tops in the league as well as third nationally in 2024.  Also on the national level, Tumilty's 9.6 points per game ranked him tied for eighth this season.  Other conference Top 10 rankings had him second in rushing yards per game (86.0), third in passing yards per game (217.1) and fourth in passing touchdowns (15).

Tumilty closed out his career rushing for 3,436 yards and 61 touchdowns (both school records), while throwing for another 5,729 yards and 45 scores.  He also scored a school-best 368 career points.  In all, the Biology major set seven school single-season or career records, while also finishing fourth in both career passing yards and passing touchdowns. 

Tumilty's 2,171 yards passing this year are the fifth-best single-season mark.  He also holds the No. 3 spot for total touchdowns in a season (16, set in 2022) and recorded the third-highest point total for a season (96 points, also in 2022) besides gaining the No. 1 spot this year (140).

Including his four league Offensive Player of the Week recognitions he received this year, Tumilty upped his career total to eight.  He finished the 2024 season with 931 yards on 149 carries, while completing 169 of his 265 pass attempts (63.7 pct.) for the 2,171 yards.

Joey Tumilty represented USF's offense on the all-conference first team for the second time in as many years.  The sophomore Accounting and Business Analytics major led the Saints in no fewer than six receiving categories highlighted by his six touchdowns and 36 points.  He also led the squad in catches (56), yards receiving (763) and receiving yards per game (84.7), the last of which also placed him third among league receivers.

Defensively, Strocchia collected first team all-conference honors by leading USF's unit to a second-place league ranking in points per game allowed (20.9) and the No. 4 position in total yards per game (334.3), passing yards per game (200.5) and rushing yards per game allowed (133.8).  One year ago, he was a second-team honoree.

Strocchia, a Values-Based Management major, finished fourth in the league in total sacks (7), while placing second on his team in assisted tackles (26) among 47 total stops.  The junior defensive end also placed second in yards lost on tackles (47).  His other numbers included three pass breakups, four quarterback hurries, 21 solo tackles. and one forced fumble.

Reeves, who is also majoring in Values-Based Management, joined the all-conference squad as a first-time honorable mention honoree after registering 31 total tackles (13 solo, 18 assisted) in 2024.  He ranked fourth on the team with his 6.5 tackles for loss and two sacks, while also posting one quarterback hurry and one pass breakup on the year.

In his junior season, Mabutas gained his second honorable mention all-conference selection after collecting his first one during the 2022 season.  In 2024, the junior defensive back was a big reason for the Saints' successful season.  The Special Education major totaled an impressive five interceptions to rank first in the conference to go along with his 46 tackles, two pass breakups, one fumble recovery and one blocked kick.

Bernardi completed a successful 2024 season on the defensive line.  Totaling 28 tackles (14 solo, 14 assisted), the redshirt sophomore also registered two tackles for loss, a half-sack and five quarterback hurries.  He is majoring in Digital Audio Recording Arts.

Heersink, a junior offensive lineman, helped make the Saints the No. 4 rushing team in the league at 184.1 yards per game, while finishing fifth in total offense at 406.6 yards per contest.  He is a Criminal & Social Justice major.

Seeing action in all 10 games this season, Hartsfield registered 18 receptions as a wide receiver, collecting 194 yards for an average of 10.8 yards per catch.  He also scored three touchdowns in 2024 and averaged 19.4 yards per game. 

For his career, Hartsfield played in 29 games and amassed 41 catches that resulted in 440 receiving yards (10.7 yards/catch) and a 15.2 yards/game average.  He also recorded three career touchdowns.

Hartsfield is a Values-Based Management major.

The CSC Academic All-America program separately recognizes football honorees in four divisions – NCAA I, II and III and NAIA.  First-, second- and third-team Academic All-America honorees will be announced in February.

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