University of St. Thomas Athletics
Four Tommies earn Academic All-District recognition
1/8/2025 1:00:00 PM | Football
ST. PAUL, MINN. – Several members of the University of St. Thomas football team received postseason recognition Tuesday when the College Sport Communicators (CSC) announced their Academic All-District teams. Alec Rasmussen (Wayzata, Minn. / Wayzata), Ryan Sever (Edina, Minn. / Benilde St. Margaret's), Patrick Wagner (Crofton, Md. / Archbishop Spaulding), CJ Warren (Circle Pines, Minn. / Centennial), and Grif Wurtz (Chaska, Minn. / Chaska) were all named Academic All-District, while Rasmussen advanced to the Academic All-America ballot for the first time in his Tommie career.
In order to be considered for Academic All-District honors, student-athletes must be nominated by a member of their institutions athletic communications/sports information staff and attain certain academic and athletic standards. Student-athletes must play in at least 50% of contests in a given season and maintain a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.5 or higher. All five representatives from St. Thomas met this standard with Rasmussen advancing to the national ballot. Members of the Academic All-America team will be announced in late January.
St. Thomas 2024 CSC Academic All-District Honorees:
Alec Rasmussen (Sr.; Offensive Line; Plymouth, Minn. / Wayzata)
Rasmussen continued to receive postseason recognition, as he was named to the CSC Academic All-District team for the second consecutive season. It is yet another honor Rasmussen can add to his already impressive resume, as he was named the PFL Scholar Athlete of the Year at the conclusion of the 2024 season and additionally earned First Team All-Conference and Academic All-Conference honors. A senior business administration major, Rasmussen appeared in 10 of the Tommies 12 games in 2024, helping the team rush for 1745 yards, including 1137 by Adebayo himself. Additionally, St. Thomas may have produced its most balanced offense, as the team also passed for 1762 yards and recorded 12 passing touchdowns in 2024. The protector of the quarterback's blindside, Tommie quarterbacks were sacked less than 30 times this season and only threw five interceptions against PFL opponents under Rasmussen's watchful eye.
Ryan Sever (Jr.; Linebacker; Edina, Minn. / Benilde-St. Margaret's) \
Sever earned All-Conference, Academic All-Conference and CSC Academic All-District honors for his play both on the field and in the classroom during the 2024 season. A business major, Sever maintained a 3.55 GPA throughout the 2024 season and led the Tommies in several defensive categories. He appeared in all 12 games for St. Thomas in 2024 and closed the season with a team-leading 87 tackles, 34 solo and 53 assists, including 10.0 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks. Sever recorded a career and season-high 12 tackles in a loss to Morehead State in early November and recorded 10 tackles against Drake the following weekend. He also closed the season with two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery, seven quarterback hurries and four pass breakups.
Patrick Wagner (Jr.; Tight End; Crofton, Md. / Archbishop Spaulding)
Wagner was named to the CSC Academic All-District team after an impressive junior season as St. Thomas' starting tight end. One of the top receiving tight ends in the conference, Wagner ranked third on the team in total receiving yards, closing the 2024 season with 235 total in 10 games. He additionally recorded his first 100+ receiving yard game in his St. Thomas career, tallying a career-high 104 yards and one touchdown in a loss to (RV) Northern Iowa in early September. As a blocking tight end, Wagner also played a pivotal role in the Tommies offense, helping the team record over 3500 all-purpose yards in 2024.
C.J. Warren (Graduate Student; Defensive Line; Circle Pines, Minn. / Centennial)
A PFL All-Conference selection, Warren was recognized by CSC Tuesday, earning Academic All-District honors for the first time in his career. A mechanical engineering major, Warren impressed both in the classroom and on the field, racking up 23 total tackles, including 5.5 for loss and 2.0 sacks. He was credited with one fumble recovery, one touchdown, six quarterback hurries and one pass break up in 2024 and recorded a season-high four tackles in the Tommies win over Dayton on Senior Day. Warren recorded a season-high 2.0 tackles for loss in the victory, including one sack.
Grif Wurtz (5th; Defensive Back; Chaska, Minn. / Chaska)
A 2023 CSC Academic All-District honoree, Wurtz earned CSC Academic All-District honors for the second straight year after an outstanding senior season with St. Thomas. As a defensive back, Wurtz appeared in all 12 games for the Tommies and racked up 73.0 tackles, two interceptions and four pass break ups in his final season. He ranked second on the team in total tackles (73.0) and 14th in the conference, having tallied 44 of his 73 tackles against PFL opponents. Wurtz also played a key role in St. Thomas' special teams success, becoming the first Tommie in the DI era to record an interception and a completed pass in the same quarter.
