CSC Academic All-District Release

DUDLEY, Mass. (1/6/2026) – Six members of the Nichols College football team earned 2025 Academic All-District honors, as officially announced by the organization on January 6^th.

Seniors Aaron Canuel, Brendan Coppola, and Lucas Ferguson, junior AJ Samuel, and sophomores Clark Gates and Ben Rusczyk were each named to the team. Ferguson is now a two-time recipient of the honor, while the remaining five are all first-time honorees.

The 2025-26 Academic All-District® Football Teams, selected by College Sports Communicators, recognize the nation's top student-athletes for their combined performances on the field and in the classroom. The CSC Academic All-America® program separately recognizes honorees in four divisions — NCAA Division I, NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III and NAIA.

Canuel, a wide receiver from South Attleboro, Massachusetts, delivered career-high 35 receptions for 544 yards through 10 games, both of which ranked second on the team this season. Along with four touchdowns, Canuel averaged 54.4 yards per game, and averaged 15.54 yards per reception, and was named to the CNE All-Conference Third Team. He is a business major in the classroom, with a 3.85 GPA.

Coppola, a defensive back and team captain out of Southington, Connecticut, appeared in eight games this season for the program, and totals a career-high 20 tackles with one pass deflection. He boasts an even 3.90 GPA as a marketing major, having previously earned Academic All-Conference recognition twice from the conference (2023, 2024).

Ferguson, a general business major and defensive lineman from East Longmeadow, Massachusetts, was another 10-game player for the Bison this season. Throughout, he total 32 tackles with 15 solo, including 2.5 for a combined loss of 14 yards. The senior also notched 1.5 sacks for a loss of nine yards, forced one fumble, and also owns a 3.90 GPA.

Gates, a wide receiver from Newton, Massachusetts, saw his first game action of his collegiate career in 2025, appearing in seven games total. On the season, his solo reception came for a total of 10 yards, and also a touchdown in the win at Maine Maritime (10/4). As a finance major, he lands on the CSC team with a 3.97 GPA, the highest of the six recipients.  

Ruscyk, an offensive lineman from Gales Ferry, Connecticut, was a starter in all 10 games this season for the Bison, playing 675 total snaps with a stat line of 26 knockdowns. From the classroom, he owns a 3.68 GPA as an accounting major.

Rounding out the list is Samuel, a criminal justice and defensive lineman from Rahway, New Jersey. This past fall, along with a 3.79 GPA, he compiled a stat line of 35 tackles, five tackles for a loss of nine yards, and 1.5 sacks for a loss of 11 yards, appearing in all 10 games.