NEWPORT NEWS, Va. - A total of 1,418 student-athletes from the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) earned recognition as the 2025-26 NJAC All-Academic Team was announced today. The list includes 17 members of the Christopher Newport University football team, the only CNU program to compete in the NJAC.
 
To qualify for the academic honor , a student-athlete must compete in a conference-sponsored sport, carry at least a 3.20 cumulative GPA through the conclusion of the fall 2025 semester, have completed a minimum of 24 credits, and hold at least sophomore academic standing. 

Members of Paul Crowley's squad to receive recognition include:

Student-Athlete (Year, Hometown, Major)
Ethan Barham (Senior, Chesapeake, VA, Management and Finance)
Connor Barry (Senior, Vienna, VA, Marketing and Finance)
Seth Bayens (Junior, New Kent, VA, Kinesiology)
Andrew Belford (Senior, Chesapeake, VA, Kinesiology)
James Benedetto (Junior, Virginia Beach, VA, Management and Finance)
Alex Brann (Junior, Henrico, VA, Cybersecurity)
Trey Corbin (Junior, Williamsburg, VA, Management and Leadership)
Fred Cowell IV (Sophomore, Yorktown, VA, Finance)
Michael Dankwa (Junior, Woodbridge, VA, Organismal & Environmental Biology)
James Howard (Sophomore, Midlothian, VA, Organismal & Environmental Biology)
Zavier Kennedy (Senior, Ashburn, VA, Management)
Jordin Lennon (Senior, Yorktown, VA, Finance)
Noah Martin (Junior, Spotsylvania, VA, Cellular, Molecular and Physiological Biology)
Lucas Matheny (Sophomore, Fairfax Station, VA, Finance and Economics)
Deven Norman (Senior, Chesapeake, VA, Kinesiology)
Nico Orlando (Sophomore, Manassas, VA, Kinesiology)
Cole Richardson (Senior, Newport News, VA, Kinesiology)
 
The complete list of NJAC accolades can be viewed by clicking HERE.

The Christopher Newport University football team will be looking to defend its NJAC league championship this coming season. The Captains, who will report to campus in mid August, registered their first-ever undefeated regular season last fall, going 10-0 overall and 6-0 in the NJAC.

The upcoming season will be the 26th in the program's history, and will open on Saturday, September 5th, at TowneBank Stadium. CNU will host the Apprentice School in a 7:00 p.m. kickoff. The Captains are ranked 18th in the country in the pre-season poll released recently by D3football.com.