Seven Spartans Named to Academic All-District Football Team
1/7/2025 12:27:00 PM | Football
EAST LANSING, Mich. – A program-record seven Spartans – Nate Carter, Sam Edwards, Maverick Hansen, Marcellius Pulliam, Jalen Satchell, Darius Snow and Jalen Thompson – have been named to the Academic All-District Team for their combined performances on the field and in the classroom.
It marks the second time that Edwards, Hansen and Snow have earned Academic All-District accolades during their careers.
The team was selected by the College Sports Communicators (CSC); student-athletes needed to be a starter or significant contributor to the team in at least their second year in college while also posting a minimum 3.5 grade-point average for consideration.
The CSC Academic All-America® program separately recognizes football honorees in four divisions — NCAA Division I, NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III, and NAIA.
Carter, Edwards and Hansen will advance to the CSC Academic All-America ballot to be voted on by CSC members; the Academic All-America Team will be announced on Jan. 28.
The previous program record of five Academic All-District honorees came during the 2003 season.
A human development and family studies major who graduated in December 2024, Carter rushed for 1,297 yards and nine touchdowns on 301 carries during his two-year Spartan career (2023-24). He was also named to the Academic All-Big Ten Team in the fall. Voted a co-captain by his teammates, Carter led MSU with five rushing touchdowns this past season and ranked second in rushing yards (499) and carries (116) and tied for second in all-purpose yards (672).
Edwards was named to the Academic All-District Team for the second consecutive season. He graduated with a double major in political theory and constitutional democracy / international relations in May 2024, finished his minor in political economy in December, and will start a master's program in marketing research in the spring semester. A four-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree, Edwards played 129 snaps on special teams and also served as the team's long snapper on field goals and PATs in the last month of the season; in addition, he played 16 snaps at linebacker and had four tackles overall.
Hansen also earned Academic All-District honors for the second year in a row. A five-year letterwinner who played in 54 career games for the Spartans from 2020-24, Hansen collected 104 tackles, 9.5 TFLs and 5.5 sacks in his collegiate career. Voted a co-captain in his sixth and final season in 2024, Hansen graduated with a degree in hospitality business and was a five-time Academic All-Big Ten selection, a four-time Big Ten Distinguished Scholar, and a two-time NFF Campbell Trophy semifinalist.
Pulliam, a sophomore, transferred from Miami to Michigan State during the summer and played in all 12 games for the Spartans. He played 97 snaps on special teams, including time on kick return, punt return and punt coverage, and 36 snaps on defense at linebacker while recording four tackles.
A redshirt junior, Satchell also transferred to MSU in the summer from Old Dominion and played in 11 games on the defensive line, collecting five tackles, 1.5 TFLs, a half sack and one pass break-up in 213 snaps.
Snow garnered Academic All-District honors for the second time in his collegiate career after returning from injuries the previous two seasons. He first picked up Academic All-District recognition in 2021 and is back on the team in 2024 after recording 29 tackles in 12 games this past season. A four-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree, Snow earned his bachelor's degree in graphic design and his master's degree in strategic communication.
Thompson, a sophomore defensive lineman from Detroit, started all 12 games for the Spartans and had 17 tackles, including two tackles for loss. He also earned Academic All-Big Ten honors for the first time during the fall.
For more information about the CSC Academic All-District® and Academic All-America® Teams program, visit AcademicAllAmerica.com.
It marks the second time that Edwards, Hansen and Snow have earned Academic All-District accolades during their careers.
The team was selected by the College Sports Communicators (CSC); student-athletes needed to be a starter or significant contributor to the team in at least their second year in college while also posting a minimum 3.5 grade-point average for consideration.
The CSC Academic All-America® program separately recognizes football honorees in four divisions — NCAA Division I, NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III, and NAIA.
Carter, Edwards and Hansen will advance to the CSC Academic All-America ballot to be voted on by CSC members; the Academic All-America Team will be announced on Jan. 28.
The previous program record of five Academic All-District honorees came during the 2003 season.
A human development and family studies major who graduated in December 2024, Carter rushed for 1,297 yards and nine touchdowns on 301 carries during his two-year Spartan career (2023-24). He was also named to the Academic All-Big Ten Team in the fall. Voted a co-captain by his teammates, Carter led MSU with five rushing touchdowns this past season and ranked second in rushing yards (499) and carries (116) and tied for second in all-purpose yards (672).
Edwards was named to the Academic All-District Team for the second consecutive season. He graduated with a double major in political theory and constitutional democracy / international relations in May 2024, finished his minor in political economy in December, and will start a master's program in marketing research in the spring semester. A four-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree, Edwards played 129 snaps on special teams and also served as the team's long snapper on field goals and PATs in the last month of the season; in addition, he played 16 snaps at linebacker and had four tackles overall.
Hansen also earned Academic All-District honors for the second year in a row. A five-year letterwinner who played in 54 career games for the Spartans from 2020-24, Hansen collected 104 tackles, 9.5 TFLs and 5.5 sacks in his collegiate career. Voted a co-captain in his sixth and final season in 2024, Hansen graduated with a degree in hospitality business and was a five-time Academic All-Big Ten selection, a four-time Big Ten Distinguished Scholar, and a two-time NFF Campbell Trophy semifinalist.
Pulliam, a sophomore, transferred from Miami to Michigan State during the summer and played in all 12 games for the Spartans. He played 97 snaps on special teams, including time on kick return, punt return and punt coverage, and 36 snaps on defense at linebacker while recording four tackles.
A redshirt junior, Satchell also transferred to MSU in the summer from Old Dominion and played in 11 games on the defensive line, collecting five tackles, 1.5 TFLs, a half sack and one pass break-up in 213 snaps.
Snow garnered Academic All-District honors for the second time in his collegiate career after returning from injuries the previous two seasons. He first picked up Academic All-District recognition in 2021 and is back on the team in 2024 after recording 29 tackles in 12 games this past season. A four-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree, Snow earned his bachelor's degree in graphic design and his master's degree in strategic communication.
Thompson, a sophomore defensive lineman from Detroit, started all 12 games for the Spartans and had 17 tackles, including two tackles for loss. He also earned Academic All-Big Ten honors for the first time during the fall.
For more information about the CSC Academic All-District® and Academic All-America® Teams program, visit AcademicAllAmerica.com.
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