JOPLIN, Mo. — Six members of the Missouri Southern football team were named to the College Sports Communicators Academic All-District Team, the organization announced Tuesday.
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 football honorees in four divisions — NCAA Division I, NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III and NAIA.
Zach Bergmann
R-Sr. | LB | Rogersville, Mo. | Exercise Science | 3.644 GPA
Zach Bergmann paced the MSSU defense, totaling 100 tackles (49 solo, 51 assist) for 2025 All-MIAA Third Team Defense honors. The redshirt senior linebacker from Rogersville, Missouri, also had five tackles for loss with two interceptions and a pass breakup. He tallied a career-best 14 tackles at Pittsburg State and had double-digit tackles in four games this season.
Bergmann, one of the Lions' senior captains in 2025, was named the MIAA Defensive Athlete of the Week on Sept. 2 after he registered a career-high 14 tackles (six solo, eight assists) in the win over Midwestern State.
He has a 3.644 GPA as an Exercise Science major at MSSU.
Braeden Foster
R-So. | LB | Owasso, Okla. | Business-General | 3.598 GPA
Braeden Foster, redshirt sophomore linebacker, competed in all 11 games in 2025, registering four tackles (one solo, three assisted). The Owasso, Oklahoma, native has a 3.598 GPA and is majoring in Business at Missouri Southern.
Dmitri Lloyd
Sr. | TE | Fort Smith, Ark. | Communication - Mass Communication | 4.0 GPA
Dmitri Lloyd, a senior tight end from Fort Smith, Arkansas, was selected as the "A Game" Scholar-Athlete of the 2025 MIAA football season, holding the highest GPA in the conference for football. He registered five receptions for 69 yards (13.8 yards per catch) in 2025. Lloyd boasts a 4.0 GPA and graduated from Southern in December with a Bachelor's in Mass Communication.
Briar McIntire
R-Fr. | LB | Archie, Mo. | Undeclared | 3.561 GPA
Briar McIntire played in all 11 games with a pair of starts in 2025. The redshirt freshman linebacker from Archie, Missouri, totaled 39 tackles including 24 solo stops. McIntire also had 1.5 tackles for loss and a quarterback hurry over the season. He currently has a 3.561 GPA at Missouri Southern.
Andrew Portillo
Sr. | DL | Aurora, Colo. | Business Administration-Accounting | 3.508 GPA
Andrew Portillo competed in all 11 contests this season, starting on the Lions' defensive line in all but one game. The senior from Aurora, Colorado, registered 14 tackles (six solo, eight assisted). He also notched a tackle for loss of five yards and a quarterback hurry. Portillo graduated from MSSU in December with a Bachelor's in Business Administration-Accounting. He compiled a 3.508 GPA.
Mason Rumsey
R-Jr. | DB | St. Louis, Mo. | Exercise Science | 3.828 GPA
Mason Rumsey saw action in all 11 games for MSSU in 2025. The redshirt junior defensive back from St. Louis, made 12 stops with eight solo tackles. He also registered a pass breakup and recovered a fumble this past fall.
Rumsey is studying Exercise Science at Missouri Southern and has a 3.828 GPA.
