Air Force Academy senior placekicker Matthew Dapore has been named the 2024 Colorado Chapter/National Football Foundation’s Scholar-Athlete of the Year.  AFA RELEASE

The Colorado Chapter of the National Football Foundation will honor Dapore at the group’s 32nd annual banquet on April 21 at the Denver West Marriott in Golden.   He is the third Falcon to receive the honor, as Academy’s Kyle Johnson (2019) and Ben Peterson (2020)  were Colorado Chapter Scholar-Athlete of the Year recipients.

Tickets for the banquet are available by contacting Colorado Chapter at nffcolorado@aol.com or by telephoning Dick DeWire at 720/236-7187.  The cost is $75 per person or $750 for a table for 10.

The Colorado Chapter has selected a recipient for the award for the last 12 years, when it also created the Academic All-Colorado team.  The chapter board votes for the Scholar-Athlete recipient, while schools submit qualifiers for the Academic team.

Dapore, who hails from Springboro, Ohio, owns an overall 3.53 cumulative grade point average in his major, Systems Engineering, with an Aeronautical Engineer focus, in which his GPA is 3.95.  He was a semifinalist for the coveted National Football Foundation’s William V. Campbell Trophy (considered the Academic “Heisman”).

On the Dean’s List for academic excellence every semester at the Academy, Dapore is active in leadership positions at the Academy, including squadron honor officer and summer honor cadet cadre, he has served as flight chief for his squadron where he executed squadron awards, advised military officers and leveraged support and logistics plans in the unit.

On the field, the Lou Groza Award Preseason Watch List member for the nation’s top kicker, he earned honorable mention All-Mountain West honors as a senior.  He became the Falcons’ all-time leading scorer in program history with 270 points, converting 126-of-129 extra point attempts and 48-of-65 with a long of 54 yards he made in a win over Colorado in 2022.

Eight of the 10 football-playing colleges in the state submitted a nomination, and all were deemed finalists for the prestigious honor.  Those included Kash Bradley (Colorado Mesa), Joel Diaz (Colorado Mines), Ricky Freymond (Western Colorado), Travis Hunter (Colorado), Jon Nuschy (CSU Pueblo), River Stout (Northern Colorado), and Christopher Thomas, Jr. (Fort Lewis).  The average grade point average for the eight scholar-athletes was 3.76.

A near-record 279 student-athletes were named Academic All-Colorado (a record 192 first-team, 87 honorable mention);  the 291 honored in 2023 set the high mark.  Eleven members of the first team were also selected either the first- or second-team All-Colorado for their play on the field in 2024, including two players of the year: Hunter (defense) and, for the second straight year, punter Blake Doud, Colorado Mines (special teams).

Past recipients were:

• 2014 – Will Oliver, Colorado
• 2015 – Richie Rice, Colorado Mines
• 2016 – Corbin Feenstra, CSU-Pueblo
• 2017 – Colin Peter, Colorado Mines
• 2018 – Geoff Keating, Colorado Mines
• 2019 – Kyle Johnson, Air Force
• 2020 – Ben Peterson, Air Force
• 2021 – Ikenna Onwuasoanya, CSU-Pueblo
• 2022 – Max Hyson, Fort Lewis
• 2023 – Nolan Reeve, Colorado Mines

The criteria to qualify were cumulative grade point averages of 3.3 or higher for first-team status (3.0-3.29 for honorable mention and if they were considered regular performers in any/all three phases of the game; GPAs are cumulative and through the fall 2024 semester. Here are the team members who were submitted by their respective schools, including class by eligibility, position, grade point average, and significant (Note: Adams State’s and Colorado State’s selections are those listed from their respective conference All-Academic teams; GR – graduate student; M.S. – Master’s Studies):

Academic All-Colorado First-Team

Adams State (8)

• Brysen Gardner                   So.          P/PK                 Business Administration
• Daniel Herrera Alfaro         So.          OL                     Sociology & Criminology
• Seth Lewalker-Bosie          Jr.           DL                     Kinesiology: Sports & Rec Mgmt
• Labarrio Mays                     So.          DL                     Kinesiology: Sports & Rec Mgmt
• Chase Nelson                      So.          QB                    Kinesiology: Sports & Rec Mgmt
• Zach Ray                             So.          LB                     Kinesiology: Sports & Rec Mgmt
• Seth Shaw                           So.          DB                    Sports Psychology
• Christian Toelei’u                Sr.          LB                     Kinesiology: Sports & Rec Mgmt

Air Force (7)

• Carson Bay                          Sr.          P          3.50     Biology
• Kurt Chesney                       Jr.           LS        3.37     Cyber Science/Computer Science
• Matthew Dapore                 Sr.          PK        3.53     Systems Engineering
• Bruin Fleischmann              Jr.           TE         3.37     Management
• Isaac Hubert                        So.          LB        3.53     Operations Research
• Devin Jordan                       S.            DB        3.47     Computer Science
• Reagan Tubbs                     Jr.           PK        3.75     Systems Engineering

Colorado (27)

• Kahlil Benson                      Jr.           OG        3.59     Sociology
• Lavonta Bentley                  Gr.          ILB       3.43     Organizational Leadership
• Tyler Brown                         Sr.          OG        3.70     Speech, Lang. & Hearing Sciences
• Cash Cleveland                   Fr.           C          3.46     Exploratory Studies
• Shane Cokes                       Gr.          DT        3.68     Leadership and Management
• Daniel Gerlach                     So.          P/PK    3.34     Business Management
• BJ Green II                          Sr.          DE        3.48     Creative Technology and Design
• Isaiah Hardge                      Fr.           CB        3.35     Strategic Communication
• Sam Hart                             Gr.          TE         3.62     Organizational Leadership
• Kameron Hawkins              Sr.          SN        3.50     Ethnic Studies
• Dallan Hayden                     So.          RB        3.60     Ethnic Studies
• Travis Hunter                       Jr.           ATH      3.85     Anthropology
• RJ Johnson                          Fr.           S          3.42     Communication
• Gabe Landers                      So.          SN        3.41     Political Science
• Dre’Lon Miller                     Fr.           WR       3.32     Communication
• Malakai Murphy                  Fr.           CB        3.68     Chemistry
• Charlie Offerdahl                 Jr.           RB        3.84     MCD Biology
• Samuel Okunlola                 So.          DE        3.83     Psychology
• Cristiano Palazzo                Jr.           PK        3.85     Integrative Physiology
• Herman Smith III                 Sr.          S          3.84     Ethnic Studies
• Destin Wade                        So.          QB        3.46     Ethnic Studies
• Keaton Wade                       Jr.           DE        3.67     Ethnic Studies
• Yakiri Walker                       Fr.           OL        3.46     Ethnic Studies
• Nathaniel Watson               Fr.           S          3.64     Journalism
• Micah Welch                       Fr.           RB        3.40     Exploratory Studies
• Jaylen Wester                     Jr.           ILB       3.32     Anthropology
• Hank Zilinskas                    So.          C          3.36     Exploratory Studies

Colorado Mesa (33)

• Oscar Aranday-Sierra         So.          DL        3.62     Health & Fitness Promotion
• Liu Aumavae                       So.          QB        3.36     Sport Management
• Kash Bradley                       Jr.           DB        3.84     Exercise Science
• Alexander Bruns                 Sr.          OL        3.46     Construction Management
• Micah Byrum                       Fr.-RS    TE         3.76     Business Administration
• Cooper Connelly                  Fr.           LB        3.82     Business Administration
• Logan DeArment                 Jr.           WR       3.32     Business Administration
• Zach Dibella                        Fr.-RS    OL        3.77     Outdoor Recreation
• Noah Greer                          Fr.-RS    WR       3.40     Business Administration
• Calem Grimble                    So.          OL        3.33     Construction Management
• Hunter Hamilton                  Fr.           DL        3.71     Biology
• Jack Horsford                      Jr.           WR       3.62     Exercise Science
• David Ives                           Fr.           DL        3.81     Business Administration
• Trek Keyworth                    Fr.-RS    WR       3.85     Business Administration
• Max Kibbee                         So.          OL        3.94     Exercise Science
• Jack Kimbrough                  So.          LB        3.63     Construction Management
• Levi Krebs                           Sr.          LB        3.61     Biology
• Lex Leany                            Jr.           LB        3.48     Business Administration
• Omarius Dimry-Lockhart      Fr.           DL        3.50     Business Administration
• Justin Lynch                        Jr.           DB        4.00     MBA
• Colton Mills-Younger          Fr.           TE         3.57     Business Administration
• Sullivan Moon                     Jr.           K          3.47     Business Administration
• Kahekili Pahio                     Jr.           WR       3.63     Exercise Science
• Ryan Randall                       Jr.           DL        3.65     Mechanical Engineering
• Brody Robinson                   Fr.-RS    DL        3.93     Adapted Physical Education
• Charlie Smith                      So.          LB        4.0       Construction Management
• George Soppe                      Fr.           LB        3.75     Construction Management
• Kade Street                         So.          DL        3.31     Criminal Justice
• Colin Stuhr                          Jr.           LB        3.65     Construction Management
• Jason Thome                      So.          DB        3.84     Business Administration
• Corbin Throgmorton            So.          DL        3.34     Criminal Justice
• Aaron Whear                       Gr.          LS        4.00     MBA
• Noah Williams                    Fr.-RS    DL        3.65     Civil Engineering

Colorado Mines (31)

• Max Barnes                         Fr.-RS    RB        3.71     Chemical Engineering
• Caden Best                          Sr.          LB        3.94     Engineering & Tech Mgmt. (M.S.)
• Evan Bish                            Fr.-RS    DL        3.86     Chemical Engineering
• William Brown                     Fr.-RS    LB        3.88     Chemical Engineering
• Joseph Capra                      Fr.-RS    QB        3.43     Mechanical Eng – Aerospace
• Joel Diaz                              Jr.           DB        3.82     Mechanical Engineering
• Blake Doud                          Jr.           P          3.67     Mechanical Engineering
• Will Drogosch                      Sr.          DB        3.38     Engineering & Tech Mgmt. (M.S.)
• Brayden Duerksen              Fr.-RS    TE         3.73     Electrical Engineering
• Brock Ewing                        Jr.           LB        3.88     Civil Engineering
• Carter Forsythe                   So.          LB        3.59     Metallurgical & Materials Eng.
• Evan Foster                         Sr.          QB        3.40     Engineering & Tech Mgmt. (M.S.)
• Hayden Gregg                      Sr.          LB        3.59     Engineering & Tech Mgmt. (M.S.)
• James Hess                        Sr.          DL        3.34     Engineering & Tech Mgmt. (M.S.)
• Cole Johnson                       Sr.          OL        3.58     Engineering & Tech Mgmt. (M.S.)
• Preston Kyle                        Fr.           K          4.00     Mechanical Engineering
• Mark McCurdy                     Sr.          WR       3.85     Mineral & Energy Economics (M.S.)
• Max McLeod                        Sr.          WR       3.41     Engineering & Tech Mgmt. (M.S.)
• Konnor Mickelsen               Jr.           RB/RS  3.59     Mechanical Engineering
• Patrick Mologne                  So.          OL        3.44     Chemical Engineering
• Finn Nicholson                    Jr.           WR       3.35     Petroleum Engineering
• Maxwell Nwokeukwu         Sr.          DL        3.31     Mechanical Engineering (M.S.)
• Josh Pollard                        Sr.          DL        3.47     Robotics (M.S.)
• Will Ramsey                        So.          DB        3.94     Computer Science
• Blake Smotherman             So.          TE         3.44     Mechanical Eng – Aerospace
• Steve Street                        Sr.          LB        3.67     Electrical Engineering
• Nick Stone                           So.          WR       3.56     Mechanical Engineering
• Jacob Sype                         Jr.           QB        3.32     Mechanical Engineering
• Jalen Thomas                     Sr.          TE         3.41     Space Resources (Grad. Cert.)
• Brock Zanetell                     So.          DB        3.86     Civil Engineering
• Jackson Zimmermann       Jr.           DB        3.40     Mechanical Engineering

Colorado State (14)

• Alex Foster                          Sr.           OL        3.90     Interdisciplinary Liberal Arts
• Bryan Hansen                      Jr.           PK        3.46     Construction Management
• Ayden Hector                      Gr.          DB        3.42     Sport Management
• Tory Horton                          Sr.          WR        3.36     Interdisciplinary Liberal Arts
• Gabe Kirschke                     Jr.           DL        3.88     Business Administration
• Owen Long                          Fr.           LB        3.69     Business Administration
• Tommy Maher                     Fr.          WR        3.53     Business Administration
• Tanner Morley                     So.          OL        3.40     Communication Studies
• Dominic Morris                   Sr.           DB        3.32     Interdisciplinary Liberal Arts
• Avery Morrow                      Gr.          RB        3.36     Communication Studies
• Drew Moss                          Sr.           OL        3.37     Business Administration
• Jordan Noyes                      Gr.          PK        3.58     Sociology
• Morgan Tribbett                  So.          LS        3.70     Business Administration
• Chase Wilson                      Sr.           LB        3.38     Construction Management

CSU-Pueblo (18)

• Moosah Alsaffar                 So.          RB        3.88     Accounting
• Regan Baker                       Jr.           P          4.00     Exercise Science
• Matteus Bugg                      Fr.-RS    DB        4.00     Pre-Business
• Steven Croell                       Sr.          QB        3.81     Business Administration
• Tyler Dvorak                        Jr.           TE         3.72     Economics
• Donovan English                 So.          DB        3.68     Pre-Business
• Tyler Ethridge                      So.          OL        3.50     Computer Information Systems
• Wilde Germano                   Sr.          LB        3.74     Business Management
• Jaiden Jones                       Jr.           OL        3.31     Pre-Business
• Curtis Luckadoo                  Sr.          TE         3.59     Exercise Science
• Evan Lyons                          So.          K          3.88     Pre-Business
• Jon Nuschy                         Sr.          LB        3.62     Business Management
• Zack Rakowsky                  Jr.           WR       3.65     Health Sciences
• Jusiah Sampleton               So.          DL        3.58     Exercise Science
• Gary Seidenberger              So.          LB        3.67     Pre-Business
• Miles Sprague                     So.          LB        3.72     Business Management
• Taylor Tosches                   Sr.          WR       3.97     Political Science
• Thomas Webb                     Sr.          DB        3.92     MED/Education

Fort Lewis (18)

• Eli Barta                                 So.       OL        3.36    Exercise Physiology
• Jacob Burr                             Sr.        WR       3.75     Sport Administration
• Axton Ching-Manaku             Jr.        DL        3.41    Criminology & Justice Studies
• Blake Devlin                           So.       DE        3.48    Sport Administration
• Collin Doucette                      So.       LB        3.70    Business Administration
• Orlando Guevara                    Fr.        RB        3.38    Entrepreneurship & Small Business
• Jacob LaCroix                        Sr.        OL        3.40    Business Administration
• Ayden Madrid                         Sr.        FB        3.56    Environmental Conservation & Mgmt.
• Nicholas Minacapelli             Sr.        RB        3.66    Masters of Arts in Education
• Christopher Ponce                 Jr.        TE         3.51    Accounting
• Elijah Portela                         So.       S          3.46    Exercise & Health Promotion
• Xavier Rawls                          Sr.        WR       4.00    Psychology
• Ryan Robbins                         Fr.        LS        3.87    Criminology & Justice Studies
• Asa Roberson                         Sr.        DB        3.53    Undeclared
• Noah Salazar                         Sr.        TE         3.32     Exercise & Health Promotion
• Maddax Shaefer                    So.       FB        3.85    History Secondary Education
• Christopher Thomas Jr.        Jr.        WR       3.65     Marketing
• Raef Wilkins                           Jr.        OL        3.44    Business Administration

Northern Colorado (16)

• Ryan Capasso                        Sr.        DL        3.33     Business Administration
• Cash Cheeks                          Sr.         TE        3.50     Sport and Exercise Science
• Peter Costelli                         So.       QB        3.54     Art & Design
• Erza Ekuban                           So.        DL        3.68     Sport and Exercise Science
• Hank Gibbs                             Jr.        QB        3.43     Business Administration
• Hunter Green                          So.    P/PK        3.56     Business Administration
• Keenan Guthrie                      Jr.         LB        3.82     Sport and Exercise Science
• Levi Johnson                          So.        OL        3.70     Physics
• Keyvon Lakes                        Sr.        LB        3.67     Sport Coaching
• Aidan Moe                              So.        OL        3.44     Sport and Exercise Science
• Brayden Munroe                   So.      WR        3.87     Business Administration
• Micah Nanninga                    Jr.         OL        3.40     Economics
• Zach Nowatzke                     Jr.         LB        3.84     Sport and Exercise Science
• Zachary Pekarek                   So.       DB        3.77     Business Administration
• K.J. Smedley                          So.       LB        3.42     Sport and Exercise Science
• River Stout                             Jr.        WR       3.92    Sport and Exercise Science

Western Colorado (20)

• Ryan Bynarowicz                Fr.-RS    LB        3.51     Biology
• Ricky Freymond                  Jr.           DL        3.57     Business Administration
• Kyle Gaster                          Jr.           WR       3.74     Exercise & Sport Science
• Zac Heaton                          Sr.          LS        3.49     Business Administration
• Trey Javorek                       Fr.-RS    WR       3.51     Business Administration
• Drew Johnson                     Fr.-RS    LB        3.60     Accounting
• Ian Loomis                          So.          LB        3.45     Rec. & Outdoor Education
• Kade Musser                       Fr.-RS    LB        3.44     Business Administration
• Jacob Naibauer                   So.          OL        3.46     Business Administration
• Drew Nash                           Jr.           QB        3.61     Exercise & Sport Science
• Blake Nieslanik                   So.          DB        3.81     Business Administration
• Bubba Nunnery                   Jr.           DB        3.53     Exercise & Sport Science
• Daniel Parsek                      Jr.           TE         3.31     Exercise & Sport Science
• Jace Perez                           So.          WR       3.36     Business Administration
• Cole Riters                           Sr.          WR       3.30     Business Administration
• Corey Scranton                   Jr.           DL        3.74     Exercise & Sport Science
• Mikey Smith                        Fr.-RS    DL        3.39     Exercise & Sport Science
• Chance Wiening                  Gr.          OL        3.90     Exercise & Sport Science
• Sage Yazzie                         Sr.          WR       3.45     Psychology
• Jaydon Young                      So.          DL        3.60     Sociology
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