2020-21 CoSIDA Academic All-America Football Team
Recent graduate Justin Lessel (Orefield, Pa./Parkland) capped his collegiate football career by becoming the seventh Academic All-American® in the history of the Gettysburg College football program according to an announcement by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA).
Lessel was recognized as a second-team selection in Division III and is the football team’s first Academic All-American since Cordell Boggs ’17 in 2016. Lessel was also the program’s first defensive back/safety to earn Academic All-America accolades.
A first-team Academic All-District selection this past year, Lessel enjoyed a breakout campaign in Gettysburg’s last full season on the turf in 2019, earning All-Centennial Conference Honorable Mention. He logged 62 tackles and eight pass break-ups that fall. Lessel was named CC Defensive Player of the Week and D3football.com Team of the Week after posting two interceptions in a win over Juniata College, including a 56-yard return for a touchdown.
A history major, Lessel appeared in all 30 games in his career, including spending the entirety of 2019 in a starting role in the secondary. He finished his career with 108 tackles, 15 pass break-ups, four interceptions, and two blocked kicks. Lessel was a three-year member of the CC Academic Honor Roll and was named Academic All-Centennial in 2019. He was also named to the National Football Foundation Hampshire Honor Society this past year.
With football unable to take the field this past year due to the pandemic, Lessel focused on his career as an educator and served as a student teacher in social studies at nearby New Oxford High School. Lessel’s younger brother, Chris, is a rising sophomore on the Bullets football team.
CoSIDA began the distinguished Academic All-America® program in 1952, and since then, has honored thousands of deserving student-athletes from numerous sports across all divisions with these elite Academic All-America® scholar-athlete honors. Lessel is Gettysburg’s 29th overall Academic All-American and 39th selection overall. He is the second honoree this year, joining Meredith Brown ’21 from women’s basketball.
This story was originally posted on the Gettysburg College Website.