AUSTIN, Texas – Randolph-Macon senior running back Nick Hale (Vinton, Va./William Byrd) has been named to the 2023 Academic All-America® First Team for football as selected by the College Sports Communicators.

Hale was initially selected to the 2023 Academic All-District® Football team. The Academic All-America® teams recognize the nation's top student-athletes for their combined performances on the field and in the classroom. All honorees had cumulative grade point averages of 3.50 or higher. Hale was the only ODAC player and only student-athlete from a Division III school in Virginia to be honored.

A business finance major, Hale was All-Region First Team by D3football.com and All-ODAC First Team. He gained 1,049 yards and tallied 23 rushing touchdowns, the third-highest total in the nation. Hale was fourth in the country with four rushing TDs during the playoffs. During the regular season, he was first in the ODAC and 14th in Division III with 6.8 yards per carry.

During the regular season, Hale was part of an offense that was first in the nation in third down conversion percentage at 61%, third in Red Zone offense at 94%, fifth in first downs at 260, fifth in fourth down conversion percentage at 72%, sixth in scoring offense at 50.9, sixth in fewest penalty yards per game at 32.2, seventh in time of possession at 34:19, ninth in rushing offense at 259.3 and ninth in completion percentage at 70%,

The Yellow Jackets, under head coach Pedro Arruza, won their first 13 games, a program record for victories in a season, and reached the semifinals of the NCAA Championship. RMC hosted three of its four NCAA Playoff contests. The Yellow Jackets won the ODAC title with a 7-0 conference mark. RMC has captured 14 ODAC championships, the most in conference history. The Yellow Jackets were ranked No. 6 in the final AFCA Coaches' Top 25.

Click here to view all honorees