Eastern Michigan Athletics
Ryland, Van Hoeven Earn Spots on CoSIDA Academic All-District Team
6/10/2021 2:14:00 PM | Football
EMU records multiple all-district selections for the fourth-time in program history
Complete Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (EMUEagles.com) - Recognized for success on and off the field, Eastern Michigan University football junior kicker Chad Ryland (Lebanon, Pa.-Cedar Crest) and senior center Mike Van Hoeven (Paw Paw, Mich.-Paw Paw) have earned 2021 Academic All-District honors, the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) announced today, June 10. EMU was one of just four Mid-American Conference programs to have multiple representatives on the all-district teams.
Van Hoeven – who was also CoSIDA Academic All-District in 2018 and 2019 – becomes the first Eastern Michigan football student-athlete to be recognized three times in a career. Meanwhile, Ryland is the first EMU specialist to be recognized since kicker Andrew Wellock in 2006 and 2007.
Ryland, who was awarded a scholarship prior to the start of the season, led the MAC and ranked fourth nationally in field goals per game (1.83) in 2020. He was second in the MAC and 23rd nationally in field goal percentage at 84.6 percent (11-of-13). His most impressive kick of the season came against Ball State, Nov. 11, where he drilled a season-best 52-yarder, which is tied for the second-longest in school history. Additionally, he tied the school record with four made field goals in an upset victory of then-MAC West Division leader Western Michigan, Dec. 5. A two-time MAC West Special Teams Player of the Week in 2020, Ryland ranks third all-time in PATs made (94) and fourth in PATs attempted (98) at EMU. He is fifth in career points scored with 205, just one shy of passing Tim Henneghan (1986-89) for fourth place, and needs just 95 points to surpass Wellock (2003-06) for the most career points at 299.
Dubbed "one of the hardest working men" on the team by Head Coach Chris Creighton, Van Hoeven played an important role in the EMU offense in 2020. Named to the Rimington Trophy watch list, the award given annually to the nation's best center, Van Hoeven started all six games for the Green and White as the team's center. He helped spur an EMU rushing attack that saw seven different Eagles record multiple attempts on the ground en route to 776 total yards and 11 of EMU's 23 offensive touchdowns in 2020. Additionally, he helped to protect quarterback Preston Hutchinson, who racked up better than 1,600 yards through the air in just six games.
The 2020-21 Academic All-District® Football Team, selected by CoSIDA, recognizes the nation's top student-athletes for their combined performances on the field and in the classroom. The CoSIDA Academic All-America® program separately recognizes football honorees in four divisions — NCAA Division I, NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III and NAIA.
District 5 consists of all FBS and FCS Division I programs in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, and Ohio. Nominees must be a starter or significant contributor to the team while carrying at least a 3.3 grade point average, and Ryland and Van Hoeven certainly fit that bill.
First-team Academic All-District® honorees advance to the CoSIDA Academic All-America® ballot. First-, second- and third-team Academic All-America® honorees will be announced in early July.
NCAA DIVISION I – DISTRICT 5 (IL, IN, MI, OH)
FIRST TEAM
Pos. Name School Yr. GPA Major
QB Desmond Ridder University of Cincinnati Sr. 3.34 Sport Administration
RB Jake Chisholm University of Dayton Jr. 3.98 Pre-Med
RB Christian Turner Youngstown State University Gr. 3.80 Business Administration
WR Rondale Moore Purdue University Jr. 3.52 Selling & Sales Management
WR Ben Skowronek University of Notre Dame Gr. 3.64/3.39 Communications
TE Drew Rosi University of Toledo Gr. 3.75/3.67 Finance (UG) / MBA (G)
OL Nick Bart University of Dayton Sr. 3.53 Business Economics / Entrepreneurship
OL Mike Caliendo Western Michigan University Gr. 3.9/3.88 Biological Sciences
OL Harry Crider Indiana University Gr. 3.9/3.96 Criminal Justice & Public Safety
OL Drew Himmelman Illinois State University Gr. 3.82/4.00 Exercise Science (UG) / Biomechanics (G)
OL Mike Van Hoeven Eastern Michigan University Gr. 4.00/4.00 Exercise Physiology
K Chad Ryland Eastern Michigan University Jr. 3.79 Supply Chain Management
DL Cade Bishop Valparaiso University Sr. 3.61 Actuarial Science
DL Aidan Hutchinson University of Michigan Jr. 3.52 Applied Exercise Science
DL George Karlaftis Purdue University Jr. 3.60 Retail Management
DL Nate Obringer University of Dayton Sr. 3.68 Finance / Entrepreneurship
LB Bo Bauer University of Notre Dame Sr. 3.32 Finance
LB Anthony Best University of Dayton Sr. 3.98 Civil Engineering
LB Anthony Ekpe Ball State University Gr. 3.39/3.61 Sport Management (UG) / MBA (G)
LB Wesley French Western Michigan University Gr. 3.45/3.68 Business Administration
LB Ryan McWood Miami University Sr. 3.30 Kinesiology
DB Tycen Anderson University of Toledo Gr. 3.35/3.77 Business
DB Bryce Cosby Ball State University Sr. 3.44 Telecommunications
DB Brandon Easterling University of Dayton Sr. 3.46 Management Information Systems
DB Brennan Thieneman Purdue University Gr. 3.47 Construction Engineering
P James Smith University of Cincinnati Sr. 3.84 Communication
ST Tyler Gillikin Northwestern University Gr. 3.98 Biomedical Sciences (UG) / Med School (G)
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (EMUEagles.com) - Recognized for success on and off the field, Eastern Michigan University football junior kicker Chad Ryland (Lebanon, Pa.-Cedar Crest) and senior center Mike Van Hoeven (Paw Paw, Mich.-Paw Paw) have earned 2021 Academic All-District honors, the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) announced today, June 10. EMU was one of just four Mid-American Conference programs to have multiple representatives on the all-district teams.
Van Hoeven – who was also CoSIDA Academic All-District in 2018 and 2019 – becomes the first Eastern Michigan football student-athlete to be recognized three times in a career. Meanwhile, Ryland is the first EMU specialist to be recognized since kicker Andrew Wellock in 2006 and 2007.
Ryland, who was awarded a scholarship prior to the start of the season, led the MAC and ranked fourth nationally in field goals per game (1.83) in 2020. He was second in the MAC and 23rd nationally in field goal percentage at 84.6 percent (11-of-13). His most impressive kick of the season came against Ball State, Nov. 11, where he drilled a season-best 52-yarder, which is tied for the second-longest in school history. Additionally, he tied the school record with four made field goals in an upset victory of then-MAC West Division leader Western Michigan, Dec. 5. A two-time MAC West Special Teams Player of the Week in 2020, Ryland ranks third all-time in PATs made (94) and fourth in PATs attempted (98) at EMU. He is fifth in career points scored with 205, just one shy of passing Tim Henneghan (1986-89) for fourth place, and needs just 95 points to surpass Wellock (2003-06) for the most career points at 299.
Dubbed "one of the hardest working men" on the team by Head Coach Chris Creighton, Van Hoeven played an important role in the EMU offense in 2020. Named to the Rimington Trophy watch list, the award given annually to the nation's best center, Van Hoeven started all six games for the Green and White as the team's center. He helped spur an EMU rushing attack that saw seven different Eagles record multiple attempts on the ground en route to 776 total yards and 11 of EMU's 23 offensive touchdowns in 2020. Additionally, he helped to protect quarterback Preston Hutchinson, who racked up better than 1,600 yards through the air in just six games.
The 2020-21 Academic All-District® Football Team, selected by CoSIDA, recognizes the nation's top student-athletes for their combined performances on the field and in the classroom. The CoSIDA Academic All-America® program separately recognizes football honorees in four divisions — NCAA Division I, NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III and NAIA.
District 5 consists of all FBS and FCS Division I programs in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, and Ohio. Nominees must be a starter or significant contributor to the team while carrying at least a 3.3 grade point average, and Ryland and Van Hoeven certainly fit that bill.
First-team Academic All-District® honorees advance to the CoSIDA Academic All-America® ballot. First-, second- and third-team Academic All-America® honorees will be announced in early July.
NCAA DIVISION I – DISTRICT 5 (IL, IN, MI, OH)
FIRST TEAM
Pos. Name School Yr. GPA Major
QB Desmond Ridder University of Cincinnati Sr. 3.34 Sport Administration
RB Jake Chisholm University of Dayton Jr. 3.98 Pre-Med
RB Christian Turner Youngstown State University Gr. 3.80 Business Administration
WR Rondale Moore Purdue University Jr. 3.52 Selling & Sales Management
WR Ben Skowronek University of Notre Dame Gr. 3.64/3.39 Communications
TE Drew Rosi University of Toledo Gr. 3.75/3.67 Finance (UG) / MBA (G)
OL Nick Bart University of Dayton Sr. 3.53 Business Economics / Entrepreneurship
OL Mike Caliendo Western Michigan University Gr. 3.9/3.88 Biological Sciences
OL Harry Crider Indiana University Gr. 3.9/3.96 Criminal Justice & Public Safety
OL Drew Himmelman Illinois State University Gr. 3.82/4.00 Exercise Science (UG) / Biomechanics (G)
OL Mike Van Hoeven Eastern Michigan University Gr. 4.00/4.00 Exercise Physiology
K Chad Ryland Eastern Michigan University Jr. 3.79 Supply Chain Management
DL Cade Bishop Valparaiso University Sr. 3.61 Actuarial Science
DL Aidan Hutchinson University of Michigan Jr. 3.52 Applied Exercise Science
DL George Karlaftis Purdue University Jr. 3.60 Retail Management
DL Nate Obringer University of Dayton Sr. 3.68 Finance / Entrepreneurship
LB Bo Bauer University of Notre Dame Sr. 3.32 Finance
LB Anthony Best University of Dayton Sr. 3.98 Civil Engineering
LB Anthony Ekpe Ball State University Gr. 3.39/3.61 Sport Management (UG) / MBA (G)
LB Wesley French Western Michigan University Gr. 3.45/3.68 Business Administration
LB Ryan McWood Miami University Sr. 3.30 Kinesiology
DB Tycen Anderson University of Toledo Gr. 3.35/3.77 Business
DB Bryce Cosby Ball State University Sr. 3.44 Telecommunications
DB Brandon Easterling University of Dayton Sr. 3.46 Management Information Systems
DB Brennan Thieneman Purdue University Gr. 3.47 Construction Engineering
P James Smith University of Cincinnati Sr. 3.84 Communication
ST Tyler Gillikin Northwestern University Gr. 3.98 Biomedical Sciences (UG) / Med School (G)
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