BRIDGEWATER, Mass. -- Four members of the Bridgewater State University football program have been selected to the 2023 Academic All-District® One Division III Football Team by the College Sports Communicators (CSC).

Earning the honor from Bridgewater State are senior tight end Ryan Burchard, junior quarterback SP Pragano, sophomore kicker Joey Naso and sophomore wide receiver Ryan Coonan.

Joining the four Bears on the 2023 Academic All-District® One Division III Football Team from the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) are Collin Crowe, Braden Lynn, Jon Proia, Patrick Rush and Mike Terrazzano from Plymouth State Universuty, and Dalton Modehn, Dominic Rienzi, Nicholas Troy and Kevin Wood from Western Connecticut State University.

The 2023 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 football honorees in four divisions — NCAA Division I, NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III and NAIA.

To be eligible for all-academic honors, a student-athlete must be a starter or a key reserve, maintain a cumulative grade point average of 3.50 on a scale of 4.00, have reached sophomore athletic and academic standings at his current institution and be nominated by his sports information director. A student-athlete must have also played in at least 90% of his team's contests for the 2023 season or started in 66% of the games.

Burchard is an economics major with a 3.78 grade point average. The Holliston, Massachusetts resident grabbed 22 receptions for 173 yards and two touchdowns in ten games (all starts) this season and was a solid blocking tight end as the Bears averaged 142.9 yards on the ground.

In 19 games over two seasons with the Bears, Burchard caught 25 passes for 181 yards and three touchdowns. He garnered All-MASCAC Second Team honors in 2023.

A Northford, Connecticut product, Pragano is majoring in special education and history, and checks in with a 3.66 GPA. He appeared in all 21 games over the last two seasons predominantly as a holder and backup quarterback. BSU kickers have converted 82 of 89 point after tries and 10 of 17 field goal attempts during that span.

A native of Hopewell Junction, New York, Naso is majoring in business marketing and sports a 3.76 GPA. In ten games this season, Naso converted 40 of 42 point after tries, including 33 in a row, and was a perfect 3-for-3 in field goal attempts with a long of 36 yards. He earned All-MASCAC First Team accolades for his outstanding performance in 2023.

In 18 games over his first two seasons in a BSU uniform, Naso has converted 74 of 79 (.937) point after tries and is 3-for-4 in field goal attempts.

Coonan, who hails from Worcester, Massachusetts, currently sports a 3.66 GPA while majoring in business. He appeared in eight games this season with seven starts and hauled in 24 receptions for 324 yards and two touchdowns.

Burchard, Pragano, Naso and Coonan helped the BSU football team post a 7-3 record in 2023 including a 7-1 conference mark as the Bears captured a share of the MASCAC title.

2023 CSC Academic All-District® Division III Football Teams (PDF)