Wayne State linebackers Alex Kowalczyk and Jes Krcil received Academic All American honors Tuesday morning as the duo was named to the 2025 College Sports Communicators Academic All-American Football Team. Kowalczyk was a Second Team All American selection, becoming a two time Academic All American after earning Second Team honors in the 2022 season. Krcil collected First Team honors and is just the fourth Wildcat player to receive First Team Academic All American honors joining placekicker Ethan Knudson (2019), linebacker Luke Hoffman (2008) and offensive lineman Jeff Shabram (1999).
            Kowalczyk, a 5-11, 220-pound graduate student linebacker from Sioux Falls, S.D. (O'Gorman HS), maintained a 4.00 grade point average earning a master's degree in business administration. He becomes just the second player in school history to receive multiple Academic All-American honors joining defensive end Kolbie Foster as a Second Team All American in 2018 and 2019.
This season on the field, Kowalczyk was named All-NSIC First Team for the third time in his WSC career recording 80 tackles (5^th-NSIC) while tied for third in the league with 9.5 tackles for loss for 27 yards and tied for third with three interceptions for 14 yards.  He was named NSIC Defensive Player of the Week in his final collegiate game after recording 16 tackles in a 38-31 win over #13 Augustana November 15^th.
            Krcil, a 6-1, 220-pound sophomore linebacker from Carlisle, Iowa (Carlisle HS), recorded a 3.92 grade point average majoring in criminal justice.  On the field, he was voted NSIC Defensive Player of the Year and All-NSIC First Team Defense after leading the Wildcats in tackles with 81 despite missing the final three games due to injury.  At the time of his injury, Krcil was second in the league in tackles while leading the NSIC in tackles for loss (12.5) and tied for third in sacks (4.5-33) and forced fumbles with two.  Other post-season honors for Krcil this season included D2CCA All-Super Region 3 First Team, Don Hansen Division II All-American honorable mention and D2Football.com Elite 100 Team.
            Wayne State ended the season at 7-4 overall, winners of their last four games that included wins over #9 Minnesota State and #13 Augustana.  The Wildcats finished as NSIC South Division champions with a 5-1 division mark.