HOUGHTON, Mich. – The Michigan Tech football team had three of its student-athletes selected by the College Sports Communicators to the 2024 Academic All-District team. The honorees for the Huskies are junior defensive back Dante Basanese, senior linebackers Josh Cribben and Owen Watson.

Basanese, a local of Iron Mountain, Michigan, led the Huskies with 84 total tackles—finishing second in the GLIAC, including 5.5 tackles for loss and an interception, earning him a spot on the All-GLIAC Honorable Mention team. In the classroom, he holds a 3.83 GPA while studying Mechanical Engineering. 

Cribben, hailing from De Pere, Wisconsin, recorded 51 total tackles, including 11.5 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, an interception and a safety, placing him on the First Team All-GLIAC Defensive team. Academically, he holds a 3.80 GPA while completing his Electrical and Computer Engineering master's degree.

Watson, a native of Otsego, Michigan, native finished second on the team with 78 total tackles—ranking fifth in the league, amassing 11.5 tackles for loss, two sacks and a forced fumble and recovery, being tabbed to the Defensive All-GLIAC Second Team. In the classroom, he holds a 3.80 studying Engineering Management.

The Division II and III CSC Academic All-America® programs are partially financially supported by the NCAA Division II and III national governance structures to assist CSC with handling the awards fulfillment aspects for the 2024-25 Divisions II and III Academic All-America® programs. The NAIA CSC Academic All-America® program is partially financially supported through the NAIA governance structure.

Academic All-District® honorees were considered for advancement to the CSC Academic All-America® ballot. Student-athletes selected as CSC Academic All-America® finalists are denoted with an asterisk and will advance to the national ballot to be voted on by CSC members. First-, second- and third-team Academic All-America® honorees will be announced January 28, 2025.