GREENWOOD, Ind. (January 8, 2025) – Three members of the University of North Alabama football team were named to the College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-District team this week, including sophomores Jyheam Ingram and Nathan Curry and redshirt senior Sam Contorno.
 
Contorno is the second Lion in the Division I era to win CSC Academic All-District three seasons in a row, joining K.J. Smith who won from 2019-21. Curry and Ingram are first-time winners.
The 2024 Academic All-District® Football teams, selected by College Sports Communicators (CSC), 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 the NAIA.

To be eligible for nomination, players must have played in at least 90 percent or started 66 percent of games, must be at least a sophomore athletically and academically and must maintain at least a 3.50 GPA.

Contorno has maintained a 4.0 GPA throughout his six-year college career. He has completed two undergraduate degrees in general management and interior architecture and design.
 
 On top of his three CSC Academic All-District honors, Contorno is also the only two-time All-Academic selection in United Athletic Conference history. He was also named to the FCS ADA Academic All-Star Team on Tuesday and is one of 11 national finalists for the 2024 FCS ADA $5,000 Postgraduate Scholarship.
 
The senior played in 36 career games as a kicker, punter and kickoff specialist. This season, he finished with 49 kickoffs for 2,976 yards to average 60.7 yards per kick, including 20 touchbacks. Contorno added five punts for 44.6 yards per punt, including four inside the 20 and one over 50 yards.
 
Ingram started all 12 games as a sophomore, totaling 28 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, a pair of quarterback hurries and 1.5 sacks. His best moment came in a 60-14 win over Utah Tech, as he scooped a fumble and rumbled 40 yards for his first career touchdown.
 
In the classroom, Ingram is majoring in management. He was also awarded the number 44 jersey this season in honor of College Football Hall of Fame linebacker Ronald McKinnon. The jersey number is given to the team's defensive leader each season.
 
Curry started all 12 games as the longsnapper for the Lions, aiding kicker Scott Payne to a 10-14 showing on field goals. He also snapped for Contorno and sophomore punter Adam Watford on punt team, allowing those punters to average 41.18 yards per punt with 13 inside the 20 yard line and nine that sailed over 50 yards.
 
Curry also had a memorable highlight against UT Martin, catching a trick play two-point conversion pass following UNA's first touchdown of the game. In the classroom, Curry is majoring in finance.
 
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