MIAMI – The College Sports Communicators (CSC), formerly known as CoSIDA, announced its 2026 Baseball Academic All-District Team on Tuesday, with four Panthers earning recognition for their accomplishments on the field and in the classroom. Sophomore Cole Cleveland, redshirt sophomore Andrew Ildefonso, senior Preston Prince, and junior Cooper Rasmussen were all honored.
 
Cleveland, a Delray Beach, Fla. native, carries a 3.62 GPA while majoring in communication arts. The sophomore appeared and started in 48 games in center field, driving in 23 RBI with four home runs, four doubles, and two triples. He also led the team with nine stolen bases and recorded 10 multi-hit games during the season. Cleveland posted a three-hit performance with two doubles and two RBI against FGCU on March 10.
 
Ildefonso, a two-time CSC Academic All-District selection, owns a 3.66 GPA while majoring in finance and has also been named to the Conference USA Commissioner's Honor Roll. The Miami native started all 54 games in the outfield and led the team with 65 hits. He finished the season batting .290 with nine home runs, 13 doubles, one triple, and 44 RBI. Ildefonso also recorded a team-high 17 multi-hit games and opened the year with a 13-game hitting streak. He capped the season with a career performance in FIU's 30–21 victory at New Mexico State on May 16, totaling five hits, two home runs, and nine RBI.
 
Prince, a senior left-hander from Hilton, N.Y., majors in finance and holds a 3.88 GPA. A 2026 Conference USA All-Academic Team selection, Prince appeared in 11 games and ranked second on the team with 47 innings pitched while leading the pitching staff with 54 strikeouts. He recorded three outings of six or more innings, including a career-high 7.1 innings against Kennesaw State on April 10, allowing just two earned runs while striking out six in a 3–2 victory. Prince also struck out a career-high 10 batters over 6.1 innings against Dallas Baptist on April 24, highlighted by a diving catch that earned the No. 1 spot on SportsCenter's Top 10 Plays.
 
Rasmussen, a junior from Temecula, Calif., boasts a 3.97 GPA while majoring in criminal justice and was also named to the 2026 Conference USA All-Academic Team. In his first season in the Blue & Gold, Rasmussen appeared in 48 games with 47 starts across the infield. He ranked second on the team with 56 hits and 12 home runs while adding 32 RBI and 10 doubles. Rasmussen finished the season batting .295 and recorded 16 multi-hit games, including three contests with three hits. He posted a 23-game on-base streak and tallied three leadoff home runs during the year. In Conference USA play, Rasmussen led the Panthers with 40 hits while adding eight home runs and 22 RBI.

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