AUSTIN, Texas -- The College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) announced on Friday that East Stroudsburg University football wide receiver Rece Bender has been named to the NCAA Division II Second Team Academic All-America® for his impressive season on the field and his strong academic performance in the classroom.
Bender, a team captain, has now earned All-PSAC East First Team, CoSIDA Super Region 1 Academic All-District First Team and CoSIDA Academic Second Team All-America® honors this offseason.
He becomes ESU's 56th Academic All-American among all sports, joining ESU volleyball's Ali Finch, who earned Third Team Academic All-America honors on Friday.
Bender was among the most explosive athletes in all of Division II, registering an average catch of 19.4 yards, which ranked 19th in the country and fifth in the PSAC. He led the Warriors with 795 yards on 41 receptions, catching five touchdowns. Always a threat to break a long touchdown, he reeled in catches of 96 yards (vs. Millersville), 79 yards (vs. Pace), 66 yards (vs. Shippensburg), 64 yards, 53 yards (vs. Bloomsburg) and 47 yards (vs. Shippensburg). The 96-yard reception against the Marauders is tied for the longest reception this season in Division II. He ranked fourth in the PSAC and second in the east division of the conference in receiving yards. An all-purpose yard machine, Bender ranked second in the conference in category with an average of 120.73 yards per contest.
He broke a program record with a 99-yd kickoff return touchdown against Lock Haven.
A sport management major, Bender has posted a 3.79 grade point average. An active member of ESU's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC), he has served as the vice president for the past two years and also holds the role of co-chair for the PSAC's SAAC organization. The native of Lancaster has served as a guest speaker in ESU's Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in College Athletics: A Call to Action webinar series.
Bender becomes the 11th Warrior football student-athlete and 15th overall selection to earn CoSIDA Academic All-America honors. He joins Levi Murphy (2019, 2nd Team, OL), Devon Ackerman (2015-17, 1st Team, OL), Jon Schnaars (2015, 1st Team, WR & 2014, 2nd Team, WR), Robert Bleiler (2013 2nd Team WR), Matt Freed (2009-10 1st Team LB), Matt Crispell (2004 1st Team DB), Ed Detwiler (1992, 2nd Team, Punter), Ernie Siegrist (1984, 1st Team, TE) and Warren Brown (1979, 2nd Team LB).
For more information about CoSIDA's Academic All-District® and Academic All-America® Teams program, visit AcademicAllAmerica.com.
