University of Delaware Athletics
Delaware Juniors Jalen Randolph, Ryan Torzsa Selected to CoSIDA District 2 All-Academic Team
11/5/2015 8:05:00 PM | Football
NEWARK, Del. -- In the quest to prepare student-athletes to be outstanding contributors on the playing field, in the classroom, and in the community, few excel like University of Delaware football standout juniors Jalen Randolph and Ryan Torzsa.
And so it's only fitting that both have been selected to the Capital One College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) District 2 Division I Football All-Academic first team announced Thursday afternoon. For Randolph, it was the second straight year that he has been honored.
To be eligible, student-athletes must have a 3.3 or better cumulative grade point average, be a starter or key reserve, and have at least sophomore eligibility. District 2 includes all NCAA Division I FCS and FBS schools in the states of Kentucky, West Virginia, Washington, D.C., Maryland, Pennsylvania, Delaware, and New Jersey.
Randolph, a health behavior science major from Ridley Park, Pa. (Ridley HS) with a 3.54 grade point average, becomes the 13th UD student-athlete to earn all-district honors twice and the first since Ethan Clark was honored in both 2011 and 2012.
A three-year standout at running back, Randolph rushed for 150 yards and scored three touchdowns this season before an injury vs. Villanova forced him to miss the last five games. Delaware's leading scorer and second leading rusher as a sophomore in 2014, he has picked up 1,098 yards rushing and scored 18 touchdowns during his career.
A three-time member of the Colonial Athletic Association Academic Honor Roll, he is also a member of the National College Athlete Honor Society and has been an active volunteer with Special Olympics, Be the Match, Sunday Breakfast Mission, and A.I. duPont Children's Hospital.
“It's a great honor to be nominated and honored for the second year in a row,” said Randolph. “It's something I take a lot of pride in. Academics have always been really important to me and I'm excited to represent the University of Delaware on this team.”
Torzsa, a finance major from Waxhaw, N.C. (Cuthbertson HS), carries a 3.78 grade point average and is also a three-time CAA Academic Honor Roll recipient. A three-year regular and first year starter, he has recorded 21 tackles from his safety position and has one interception, one pass breakup, and one blocked punt this season. He is the first UD player since 2002 to intercept a pass and block a punt in the same season.
He has made the Dean's List numerous times and is an active volunteer with Special Olympics, Be the Match, Sunday Breakfast Mission, and A.I. duPont Children's Hospital. He is also active with UD's Student-Athlete Advisory Council (SAAC) and serves on the board of directors.
“It means a lot,” said Torzsa. “When you put in a lot of hard work off the field it feels good to be rewarded and receive some recognition. I know that whether I won the award or not, I worked hard and I did my best. That is the most important thing to me.”
In addition to Randolph and Torzsa, Delaware junior kicker Kevin McLaughlin and sophomore linebacker Jalen Kindle were also nominated for the award.
AGATE:
Offense: QB - Chad Voytik (Pitt); RB - Jalen Randolph (Delaware), Matt DelMauro (Bucknell); WR - Thomas Wilson (Navy), Charles Walker (Kentucky); TE - Chris Ruhl (Lehigh); OL - Jordan Swindle (Kentucky), Nick Faraci (Robert Morris), P - Landon Foster (Kentucky), Jake Prus (Villanova), E.K. Binns (Navy), Tyler Yazujian (Penn State); P - Landon Foster (Kentucky).
Defense - DL - Collin Albershardt (Lafayette), Colt Briggs (Morehead State), Luke Weiss (St. Francis), LB - Sam Martello (Duquesne), Troy Reeder (Penn State), Don Cherry (Villanova); DB - Ryan Torzsa (Delaware), Joe Johnson (Monmouth), Andy Smigiera (Rober Morris), Dylan Boone (Murray State); K - Lance Geesey (St. Francis).
FOR MORE INFORMATION: Contact Scott Selheimer | selheime@udel.edu | Office: 302-831-8007 | Cell: 302-562-5129
