GREENWOOD, Ind. - Upper Iowa's Connor Andresen, Nathan Behne, Eddie Burgess, Koda Gates-Bridges, Ryan McDonough, Darryl Overstreet Jr., Klay Seehase and Gavin Sweeney were recognized on Tuesday on the College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic-All District® Team.
Peacock football reached the maximum number of honorees a team can receive with eight. The CSC Academic All-America® Teams will be announced on Tuesday, Jan. 27.
To be eligible for the award, student-athletes must be at least a sophomore academically and athletically while accumulating a 3.50 grade point average or above. For football, eligible student-athletes must compete in 90 percent of the institution's games player or must start in at least 66 percent of the institution's games.
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 court 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.
Academic All-District® honorees were considered for advancement to the CSC Academic All-America® ballot. First-, second- and third-team Academic All-America® honorees will be announced Jan. 27, 2026.
The Division II and III CSC Academic All-America® programs are partially financially supported by the NCAA Division II and III national governance structures to assist CSC with handling the awards fulfillment aspects for the 2025-26 Divisions II and III Academic All-America® programs. The NAIA CSC Academic All-America® program is partially financially supported through the NAIA governance structure.
#68 Connor Andresen (OL, 6-3, 290, Gr., Anamosa, Iowa / Anamosa HS)
- CSC Academic-All District®
- All-GLVC Second Team
- Started all 12 games for the Peacocks
- Part of an offense that allowed 12 sacks, ranking first in the GLVC and 20th nationally
- Helped the Peacocks average 188.2 rushing yards per game, ranking 35th in the nation
- Aided the offense in averaging 5.5 yards per carry, ranking 15th in the nation
- Recorded the most total points (397) and touchdowns (53) in program history as a team
- Ranked fifth in total passing (2,966 yards) and fourth in average yards per game (431.6) in program history.
- Aided the Peacocks to their first nine-win season and bowl win in program history
#38 Nathan Behne (K, 6-1, 190, So., Jefferson, Iowa / Greene County HS)
- CSC Academic-All District®
- GLVC Co-Special Teams Player of the Year
- All-GLVC Second Team
- Played all 12 games for the Peacocks
- Made 9-of-13 field goals and was 47-of-49 on PATs
- Went a perfect 5-for-5 on 40+ yard field goals with a career-high 51-yarder vs. Southwest Baptist (Mo.)
- Led the GLVC with a 43.34 punting average
- Became the first Peacock to earn a conference special teams player of the year award
- Aided the Peacocks to their first nine-win season and bowl win in program history
#17 Eddie Burgess (TE, 6-4, 240, Sr., Montezuma, Iowa / Montezuma HS)
- CSC Academic-All District®
- Don Hansen All-America Honorable Mention
- AFCA Second Team All-American
- All-GLVC First Team
- Started all 12 games for Upper Iowa
- Recorded 641 receiving yards and five touchdowns
- Ranks 15th all-time in program history in career receiving yards (1,681)
- Tied for eighth in program history in career receiving touchdowns (19)
- Aided the Peacocks to their first nine-win season and bowl win in program history
#1 Koda Gates-Bridges (WR, 5-9, 180, R-Jr., Carrolton, Texas / Hebron HS)
- CSC Academic-All District®
- Played in 12 games with eight starts
- Tallied 41 catches for 249 yards
- Had a season-high 54 yards against South Dakota Mines (9/13)
- Totaled six catches for 52 yards in the Albanese Candy Bowl win (12/6)
- Aided the Peacocks to their first nine-win season and bowl win in program history
#70 Ryan McDonough (OL, 6-3, 315, Jr., Wapello, Iowa / Wapello HS)
- CSC Academic-All District®
- Started in all 12 games for the Peacocks
- All-GLVC Honorable Mention
- Part of an offense that allowed 12 sacks, ranking first in the GLVC and 20th nationally
- Helped the Peacocks average 188.2 rushing yards per game, ranking 35th in the nation
- Aided the offense in averaging 5.5 yards per carry, ranking 15th in the nation
- Recorded the most total points (397) and touchdowns (53) in program history as a team
- Ranked fifth in total passing (2,966 yards) and fourth in average yards per game (431.6) in program history.
- Aided the Peacocks to their first nine-win season and bowl win in program history
#2 Darryl Overstreet Jr. (QB, 6-2, 215, Sr., Grayslake, Ill. / Grayslake Central HS)
- CSC Academic-All District®
- All-GLVC Honorable Mention
- GLVC Player of the Week (11/3)
- Started all 12 games for Upper Iowa
- Threw for 2,798 yards and 23 touchdowns with 358 rushing yards and six touchdowns
- Had the fifth-most passing yards and tied for the fourth-most passing touchdowns in UIU history
- Finished career with 7,878 passing yards for the second-most in program history
- Recorded the most total points (397) and touchdowns (53) in program history as a team
- As a team, ranked fifth in total passing (2,966 yards) and fourth in average yards per game (431.6) in program history.
- Aided the Peacocks to their first nine-win season and bowl win in program history
#57 Klay Seehase (OL, 6-7, 310, R-Jr., Sumner, Iowa / Sumner-Fredericksburg HS)
- CSC Academic-All District®
- All-GLVC First Team
- Started all 12 games for Upper Iowa
- Allowed one sack and three pressures at left tackle
- Part of an offense that allowed 12 sacks, ranking first in the GLVC and 20th nationally
- Helped the Peacocks average 188.2 rushing yards per game, ranking 35th in the nation
- Aided the offense in averaging 5.5 yards per carry, ranking 15th in the nation
- Recorded the most total points (397) and touchdowns (53) in program history as a team
- Ranked fifth in total passing (2,966 yards) and fourth in average yards per game (431.6) in program history.
- Aided the Peacocks to their first nine-win season and bowl win in program history
#44 Gavin Sweeney (DL, 6-5, 255, R-Jr., LeRoy, Minn. / LeRoy-Ostrander HS)
- CSC Academic-All District®
- Appeared in 11 games for Upper Iowa
- Totaled 26 tackles (15 solo) on the season
- Recorded two sacks, each coming in back-to-back games vs. Southwest Baptist (Mo.) and William Jewell (Mo.)
- Tallied four tackles for loss with two against William Jewell
- Aided the Peacocks to their first nine-win season and bowl win in program history
