For only the third time in school history, the Northwest Missouri State University football program can boast of two first-team Academic All-America® selections in the same season as seniors Andrew Dumas and Jake Fisher collected honors on Tuesday.
 
The only two previous occasions of Northwest having two first-team Academic All-America® honorees in the same year came in 2004 (Troy Tysdahl and Josh Lamberson) and 2018 (Marqus Andrews and Ryan Spelhaug).
 
Dumas (Olathe, Kan.) had a 4.0 GPA as he worked toward his master's degree. Dumas was an MIAA Scholar-Athlete and gained the MIAA's Academic Excellence Award. Dumas was a third-team all-MIAA pick in 2024. Dumas ranked No. 4 on the team in tackles (37). He had 7.0 TFLS and 0.5 sacks. Dumas notched 3.5 TFLs and seven total tackles vs. No. 13-ranked Pittsburg State. He started all 11 games at linebacker. He served as team captain and was a semifinalist for the National Football Foundation's William V. Campbell Award.
 
Fisher (Smithville, Mo.) had a 4.0 GPA in his pursuit of a master's degree. Fisher was the 2024 MIAA Defensive Lineman of the Year and earned All-America accolades from the American Football Coaches Association, Associated Press and Don Hansen Football Gazette. He gained first-team all-MIAA and first-team all-D2CCA status this season. Fisher started all 11 games on the Bearcat defensive line. The Bearcat defense ranked No. 3 in the nation by allowing 67.7 rushing yards per game, including a league-best 52.9 rushing yards per game in MIAA contests. Fisher led the team in tackles-for-loss (13.5) and quarterback sacks (6.5). He ranked No. 3 in the MIAA in sacks and TFLs. Fisher totaled 35 total tackles, including a season-high eight vs. Northeastern State. Fisher was an honorable mention all-MIAA pick in 2023 and a third-team all-MIAA honoree in 2022. He served as team captain in 2023 and 2024. 
 
The Division II Academic All-America® program is financially supported by the NCAA Division II national governance structure to assist the College Sports Communicators with handling the awards fulfillment aspects for the 2024-25 Division II Academic All-America® program.

Dumas and Fisher become the 26th and 27th Bearcat football student-athletes to be selected as Academic All-America® honorees.

Northwest Football's All-Time Academic All-America Selections
Chip Gregory, LB - 1981 (First Team)
Josh Lamberson, QB - 2004 (First Team)
Troy Tysdahl, LB - 2004 (First Team)
Josh Lamberson, QB - 2005 (First Team)
Myles Burnsides, DB - 2008 (Second Team)
Myles Burnsides, DB - 2009 (First Team)
Sean Paddock, DL - 2009 (Second Team)
Jake Soy, WR - 2010 (Second Team)
Trevor Adams, QB - 2011 (Second Team)
Trevor Adams, QB - 2012 (Second Team)
Nate DeJong, DB - 2012 (Second Team)
Trevor Adams, QB - 2013 (First Team)
Eric Reimer, LB - 2013 (Second Team)
Eric Reimer, LB - 2014 (First Team)
Kyle Zimmerman, QB - 2016 (First Team)
Marqus Andrews, TE - 2018 (First Team)
Ryan Spelhaug, OL - 2018 (First Team)
Marqus Andrews, TE - 2019 (Second Team)
Ryan Spelhaug, OL - 2019 (First Team)
Jackson Barnes, LB - 2020-21 (Second Team)
Zach Howard, DT - 2020-21 (Second Team)
Jackson Barnes, LB - 2021 (First Team)
Zach Howard, DT - 2021 (Second Team)
Zach Howard, DT - 2022 (Second Team)
Kobe Clayborne, DL - 2023 (Second Team)
Andrew Dumas, LB - 2024 (First Team)
Jake Fisher, DL - 2024 (First Team)
 
Northwest Missouri State University has produced 59 Academic All-America® honorees beginning with Chip Gregory in football in 1981.
 
Northwest's All-Time Academic All-America® Selections
1981 – Chip Gregory, Football (First Team)
1984 – Betty Olson, Women's Basketball (Honorable Mention)
1985 – Marla Sapp, Women's Basketball (Third Team)
1989 – Bob Sundell, Track & Field (First Team)
1989 – Bob Sundell, Men's Basketball (Second Team)
1994 – Bill Bobo, Men's Tennis (Third Team)
1997 – Kathy Kearns, Women's Cross Country (Second Team)
1998 – Robby Lane, Men's Cross Country (Third Team)
1999 – Robby Lane, Men's Track & Field (First Team)
1999 – Robby Lane, Men's Cross Country (Second Team)
2000 – Kendra Smith, Softball (First Team)
2000 – Jill Quast, Volleyball (First Team)
2002 – Tucker Woolsey, Men's Track & Field (First Team)
2003 – Clint Prange, Men's Track & Field (First Team)
2004 – Josh Lamberson, Football (First Team)
2004 – Troy Tysdahl, Football (First Team)
2005 – Josh Lamberson, Football (First Team)
2005 – Clint Prange, Men's Track & Field (First Team)
2005 – Gena Lindsay, Women's Tennis (Second Team)
2006 – Zach Keith, Men's Tennis/Men's At-Large (Third Team)
2006 – Gena Lindsay, Women's Tennis (Second Team)
2008 – Myles Burnsides, Football (Second Team)
2009 – Myles Burnsides, Football (First Team)
2009 – Sean Paddock, Football (Second Team)
2010 – Jake Soy, Football (Second Team)
2011 – Trevor Adams, Football (Second Team)
2012 – Trevor Adams, Football (Second Team)
2012 – Nate DeJong, Football (Second Team)
2013 – Trevor Adams, Football (First Team)
2013 – Eric Reimer, Football (Second Team)
2014 – Eric Reimer, Football (First Team)
2016 – Kyle Zimmerman, Football (First Team)
2016 – Sarah Baldwin, Softball (Third Team)
2018 – Marqus Andrews, Football (Second Team)
2018 – Ryan Spelhaug, Football (First Team)
2019 – Marqus Andrews, Football (Second Team)
2019 – Ryan Spelhaug, Football (First Team)
2020 – Jackson Barnes, Football (Second Team)
2020 – Zach Howard, Football (Second Team)
2020 – Marcus Klein, Men's Track & Field (First Team)
2021 – Jackson Barnes, Football (First Team)
2021 – Zach Howard, Football (Second Team)
2022 – Marcus Klein, Men's Track & Field (Second Team)
2022 – Zach Howard, Football (Second Team)
2022 – Alyssa Rezac, Volleyball (Second Team)
2022 – Payton Kirchhoefer, Volleyball (Third Team)
2023 – Caroline Cunningham, Track & Field/Cross Country (First Team)
2023 – Kaylee Harp, Track & Field/Cross Country (Second Team)
2023 – Blake Morgan, Track & Field/Cross Country (First Team)
2023 – Reece Smith, Track & Field/Cross Country (First Team)
2023 – Dakota Schmidt, Track & Field/Cross Country (Second Team)
2023 – Kobe Clayborne, Football (Second Team)
2024 – Mitch Mascari, Men's Basketball (Second Team)
2024 – Ryan Williams, Baseball (Second Team)
2024 – Kaylee Harp, Track & Field/Cross Country (First Team)
2024 – Blake Morgan, Track & Field/Cross Country (First Team)
2024 – Reece Smith, Track & Field/Cross Country (First Team)
2024 – Andrew Dumas, Football (First Team)
2024 – Jake Fisher, Football (First Team)