Fort Hays State had eight members of its football team named Academic All-District by College Sports Communicators (CSC) for 2024 on Tuesday (Jan. 7). The eight Tigers selected were Myles Menges, Mason Perez, Ryan Allen, Carson Arndt, Cale Cormaney, Josh Shaw, Brandon Kerr, and Jonah Smith.
 
This award honors a combination of academic and athletic accomplishments of the individuals selected. To be considered for Academic All-District selection, an individual must be at least a sophomore academically and athletically, hold a cumulative GPA of 3.50 or better at time of nomination, and compete in 90 percent of the team's contests or start at least 66 percent of contests at the time of nomination. A school can have a maximum of eight selections for football, so FHSU reached the maximum allowed for the third-straight year.
 
Six of the eight Tigers selected are repeat honorees. Menges and Perez are now three-time selections, while Allen, Arndt, Cormaney, and Shaw are all two-time selections. Kerr and Smith received the honor for the first time. Five of the individuals were All-MIAA selections as well in 2024, which included Menges, Perez, Arndt, Cormaney, and Shaw.
 
Menges continues to add on to his long list of postseason awards for 2024. He was an All-America selection by three organizations after being named the MIAA Defensive Player of the Year and an All-MIAA First Team selection on the defensive line. He is also a finalist for the annual Cliff Harris Award, given to the top small college defensive players at the NCAA Division II, III, and NAIA levels. Menges was a four-time All-MIAA selection and four-time MIAA Scholar-Athlete Award recipient. He is now a three-time CSC Academic All-District selection, receiving the honor all three years he was eligible for the honor. Menges finished the 2024 season with 27 tackles, 5.5 sacks, 6.5 tackles for loss, 11 pass breakups, one interception, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery. Menges held a 3.81 graduate GPA at the time of the nomination and graduated in December with a master's in Health and Human Performance (Sports Management/Recreation). He had a 3.75 undergraduate GPA.
 
Perez was an All-MIAA First Team and D2CCA All-Super Region 3 Second Team selection as a defensive back in 2024. Like Menges, he also collected this honor from CSC in all three years he was eligible for the award. He was a three-time All-MIAA selection overall and three-time MIAA Scholar-Athlete Award recipient. Perez finished the season with 69 tackles, while leading the team in tackles for loss with 7.0. He added five pass breakups, a forced fumble, and two blocked kicks. Perez held at 3.62 GPA as a Health and Human Performance (K-12 Teaching/Coaching) major.
 
Arndt was a repeat All-MIAA selection as a kicker in 2024, this year as a second-team selection. He was a four-time all-conference performer overall throughout his collegiate career, which included a pair of selections at Butler (Kan.) Community College. He tied for the MIAA lead in field goals made in 2024 with 16 and finished a perfect 40-for-40 on PAT attempts. He remained perfect on PATs over two years, going 87-for-87 at FHSU. Arndt held a 3.69 GPA as a Technology Studies (Construction Management) major at FHSU.
 
Cormaney was a repeat All-MIAA selection as a tight end this year, earning second-team honors in 2024. He had 32 receptions for 310 yards and one touchdown in the regular season. He earned the CSC Academic All-District honor for the second-straight year with a 3.86 GPA as a Sociology and Organizational Leadership major at FHSU. He is also a two-time MIAA Scholar-Athlete Award recipient.
 
Shaw was a repeat All-MIAA selection as an offensive lineman this year, selected to the first team unanimously in 2024. Shaw started all 11 games for the Tigers, mainly at his usual left guard position but also had to make a pair of starts at center due to injuries throughout the year. He helped the Tigers produce 402 yards of total offense per game during the regular season, which included 169.3 yards per game on the ground and 232.7 yards per game through the air. The Tigers scored 40 touchdowns and racked up 241 first downs in the regular season. Shaw continues to hold a perfect 4.0 GPA as an Agricultural Business major at FHSU, now a two-time Academic All-District selection, three-time MIAA Academic Excellence Award recipient, and two-time MIAA Scholar-Athlete.
 
Allen finished the 2024 season 28 receptions for 323 yards and two touchdowns as a wide receiver. He also served as a return specialist with eight punt returns totaling 80 yards, while continuing to be a key member of special teams on kick coverage. Allen holds a 3.89 GPA as a Health and Human Performance (Sport and Exercise Therapy) major at FHSU. He is now a two-time recipient of the CSC Academic All-District honor.
 
Kerr was a starter in all nine games he played for the Tigers on the offensive line in 2024 as the team's center. He helped the Tigers produce 402 yards of total offense per game during the regular season, which included 169.3 yards per game on the ground and 232.7 yards per game through the air. The Tigers scored 40 touchdowns and racked up 241 first downs in the regular season. Kerr holds a 3.6 cumulative GPA as a Management major at FHSU.
 
Smith was a key member of Tiger defensive line in 2024. He made three starts and played in all 11 games throughout the season. He finished the year with 12 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, and a half sack. Smith is a Health and Human Performance (Sport and Exercise Therapy) major at FHSU and holds a GPA of 3.97.