PELLA—Eight Central College players are members of the College Sports Communicators Academic All-District® Football Football Team released Tuesday.

To be eligible for consideration, a student-athlete must be a starter or key reserve at the varsity level and achieve a 3.50 or better cumulative grade point average (4.00 scale). Each institution can nominate a limited number of players who are then considered for CSC Academic All-America® honors. Freshmen and transfers are not eligible.

The Division III Academic All-America® program is partially funded by the NCAA Division III national governance structure to assist CSC with handling the awards fulfillment aspects for the 2023-24 Division III Academic All-America® teams program. This year's squad will be announced Jan. 23.
           
Heading the all-district squad for Central is wide receiver Jeff Herbers (5th-year, Urbandale, Des Moines Christian HS), who is a two-time Academic All-America® honoree and a three-time all-district team member. Also receiving all-district recognition for a third time is linebacker Brody Klein (senior, Rainier, Wash.). Named for the second year in a row are strong safety Cameron Bannister (senior, State Center, West Marshall HS), tight end Grant Nelson (junior, Pella) and free safety Reece Miller (senior, Center Point, Center Point-Urbana HS). Others named are center Maximus Reitano (sophomore, Grimes, Dallas Center-Grimes HS), cornerback Ben DeMeulenaere (sophomore, Belle Plaine) and cornerback Gavin Smith (sophomore, Audubon).
           
Herbers graduated with a 3.97 grade point average while majoring in actuarial science. Klein carries a 3.92 GPA with a kinesiology major, Bannister has a 3.81 GPA with a psychology major, Nelson has a 3.76 GPA with a kinesiology major, Miller has a 3.58 GPA with a strength and conditioning major, Reitano has a 3.97 GPA with a kinesiology major, DeMeulenaere has a 3.92 GPA with a kinesiology major and Smith has a 3.86 GPA with an accounting major.
           
Last year, Herbers was a first-team CSC Academic All-America® selection after receiving second-team recognition in 2021.
           
Bannister is also among only four Division III players and 22 collegiate players overall named to the Allstate American Football Coaches Association Good Works Team®. Bannister will travel to New Orleans to be recognized at the Allstate Sugar Bowl Jan. 1.