GREENWOOD, Ind. -- University of St. Francis football student-athletes Ryan Little, Anthony Niecikowski, Peyton Norton, Connor Engstrom, Rob Baranowski, Nick Franciskovich and Marcello Bernardi have been named to the 2025 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 recognitions bestowed upon Little and Niecikowski this past season included Mid-States Football Association (MSFA) all-conference commendations.

Little, who is majoring in information technology, had a stellar season highlighted by receiving the first all-conference nod of his career this fall after ranking third in the league with his 15.06 yards-per-catch average.  The junior wide receiver caught 52 passes for 783 yards with five resulting in touchdowns.  He averaged 78.3 yards per game receiving.

Niecikowski and Norton represented USF's offensive line by helping make the Saints the No. 2 rushing team in the league at 165.3 yards per game, while finishing fourth in total offense at 384.6 yards per game.  A first-time all-conference honoree on the first team this season, Niecikowski received second team honors in 2024.  Norton is majoring in entrepreneurship, while Niecikowski is working towards a degree in nursing.

Seeing action in all 10 games this season, Engstrom registered 34 receptions as a wide receiver, collecting 379 yards for an average of 11.15 yards per catch.  He also scored four touchdowns in 2025 and averaged 37.9 yards per game.  Engstrom is majoring in marketing.

Defensively, Baranowski, who is a finance major, finished second on his team in assisted tackles (28) among 51 total stops.  The redshirt sophomore defensive back also placed second in yards lost on tackles (40) and third in sacks (3.0).  His other numbers included 23 solo tackles, one pass breakup, one quarterback hurry, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery.

In an injury-shortened senior season, Franciskovich, a history major, totaled two interceptions and five pass breakups to rank second on the team in both categories to go along with his 44 tackles (21 solo, 23 assisted) and five tackles for loss.

Bernardi, a 2024 CSC All-District recipient as well, completed a successful 2025 season on the defensive line.  Totaling 26 tackles (9 solo, 17 assisted), the junior also registered 6.5 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks and six quarterback hurries.  He is majoring in Digital Audio Recording Arts.

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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