GREENWOOD, Miss. — Three Jones College student-athletes from different men’s sports have been named to the 2025-26 College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-America teams, marking the highest number in school history. The honors are considered the premier academic achievement for college athletes nationwide, with eight of the 20 college division honorees posting a 4.0 GPA, and the group averaging a 3.90 GPA, according to CSC.
Brodie Bass, a football player, and Ridge Jones, a tennis player, earned first-team honors. Chase Russell, a baseball player, was named to the second team. Jones College previously recognized five women for academic honors this week, making a total of eight men’s honorees in 2025-26 — the most-ever for the school. Since the program’s inception in 2019-20, Jones has produced 21 All-America recipients.
Bass, a 6-foot-4 offensive lineman and a first-team All-MACCC selection, maintained a 3.75 GPA in general studies. The Sumrall native, who signed with East Tennessee State, played all 18 games during his college career. Off the field, he previously earned academic honors from the MACCC and NJCAA, along with a spot on the school’s academic honor roll.
Jones, a 5-foot-10 student from Northeast Jones, carried a 4.0 GPA in teaching and coaching. He also received recognition as a Jones College Tullos Scholar, ITA Scholar-Athlete, and NJCAA All-Academic First Team member. Jones compiled a 43-11 singles record and a 38-15 doubles record, helping Jones secure consecutive MACCC Championships and reach the NJCAA Division II Tournament’s top four, the school’s best finish.
Russell, a 6-foot-2 Louisiana-Monroe signee, posted a 3.91 GPA in pre-medicine. The two-time All-MACCC selection started 101 games for the Bobcats, contributing both as a pitcher and an outfielder. His career batting average was .371, with 20 doubles, 20 home runs, 103 RBIs, and a .504 on-base percentage. On the mound, he went 9-4 with a 4.36 ERA and 63 strikeouts in 23 appearances.
Jones College’s baseball team finished 41-18, won its first NJCAA Region 23 title in a decade, and made its first NJCAA World Series appearance since 2016. More information about the CSC Academic All-America program is available at academicallamerica.com.
