GREENWOOD, Ind. – Three outstanding Jones College student-athletes from three different men's teams have been named 2025-26 Academic All-America® as selected by College Sports Communicators (CSC). 

It's the highest academic honor a student-athlete can get from any national organization.

Eight members of the Academic All-America® college division at-large teams recorded a 4.0 GPA and the 20 total honorees combined for a 3.90.

Football's Brodie Bass and tennis' Ridge Jones were named CSC Academic All-America® First Team selections and baseball's Chase Russell landed on the second team.

On the heels of five Bobcat women getting the honor Tuesday by CSC, three more for the men give Jones eight in one year which is the most-ever. Since receiving its first two academic all-americans from the organization in 2019-20, Jones' total now stands at 21 all-time awardees.

Bass, a First Team All-MACCC selection this past season on the offensive line, carried a 3.75 GPA in general studies.

The Sumrall native and East Tennessee State signee played in all 18 games during his Bobcat career. Off the field, he was previously Academic All-MACCC, NJCAA All-Academic Third Team and member of the school's academic honor roll.

Jones had a 4.0 GPA in teaching and coaching. This is just the latest academic honor for Ridge, who was also recognized as a Jones College Tullos Scholar, ITA Scholar-Athlete, Distinguished Academic All-MACCC, NJCAA All-Academic First Team and a President's List member.

The Northeast Jones product and 2026 All-MACCC selection had a 43-11 career singles record and 38-15 career doubles record, leading Jones to back-to-back MACCC Championships, an ITA Top 10 ranking both years and a school-best fourth place finish at the NJCAA Division II Tournament.

A Louisiana-Monroe signee, Russell carried a 3.91 GPA in pre-medicine while starting 101 career games for the Bobcats in the field and on the mound.

Russell, a two-time All-MACCC selection, was a .371 lifetime hitter with 20 doubles, 20 home runs, 103 RBIs, 98 runs scored and carried a whopping .504 on-base percentage. He was 9-4 on the mound over 23 appearances with a 4.36 ERA and 63 strikeouts. 

Jones went 41-18 on the diamond, won their first NJCAA Region 23 title in a decade and made its first appearance in the NJCAA World Series since 2016.

For more information regarding the Academic All-America® program, visit academicallamerica.com.