Four Harding Football Players Earn CSC Academic All-America, Tied for Most in Division II

SEARCY – Four members of the Great American Conference champion Harding football team, the most of any team in the conference and tied for the most of any Division II team, received Academic All-America honors Tuesday from College Sports Communicators. Harding has had nine honorees in the last two years.

Honorees are selected by members of the CSC and are chosen based on both academic and athletic achievements during the 2024 season.

Earning First Team All-America were running back Braden Jay, offensive lineman Jake Dugger and defensive back Ty Dugger. Running back Blake Delacruz was a Second Team honoree. Jake Dugger, Ty Dugger and Delacruz, earned Academic All-America for the second straight season. They join Cooper Carroll (2021-22) as the only Bisons ever to earn the award twice.

Here's a brief overview of each student-athlete:

Braden Jay, a senior marketing major from Cabot, Arkansas, boasts a 3.73 GPA. He started all 14 games at slot back, rushing for 1,080 yards and 13 touchdowns.

Blake Delacruz, a senior criminal justice major from Springfield, Missouri, maintains a 3.68 GPA. He started all 14 games at fullback, rushing for 813 yards and 13 touchdowns.

Jake Dugger, a graduate student in information systems from Searcy, Arkansas, holds a 3.90 GPA. He started all 14 games at right tackle.

Ty Dugger, a senior accounting major from Searcy, Arkansas, boasts a 3.91 GPA. He started all 14 games at safety, making 42 tackles with four interceptions.

Harding football now has 19 Academic All-Americans since in its first in 1978.

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