Twenty SUNY Cortland football players earned a total of 21 Empire 8 all-conference awards, senior linebacker Aden Wiser (Highland) was chosen as the Empire 8 Defensive Player of the Year, and head coach Tom Blumenauer and his assistant coaches were named the league's Coaching Staff of the Year, for the 2025 season.
 
In all, nine Cortland players earned first-team all-league awards, eight Red Dragons were named to the all-league second team, and Cortland earned four third-team honors. One player was named to both the first and third teams at different positions.
 
The Cortland coaching staff was recognized by the league for the fifth straight year. Blumenauer, in his first season with the Red Dragons, is assisted by Leondre Simmon, Jack Mrozinski Jr., Eric Bunker, Chyron Brown-Wallace, Joe Mack, Mark Sanchez, Matt Scully, Paul Shaffner, Bill Spicer, and strength and conditioning coordinator Phill Wiltshire.
 
Cortland finished the regular season with an 8-2 record, including a 7-0 mark to win its fifth straight Empire 8 title and earn an automatic berth into the NCAA Division III playoffs. The Red Dragons will travel to Springfield College for the first round on Saturday.
 
Junior linebacker Liam Casey (Wantagh) is Cortland's representative on the Empire 8 "Tomorrow's Leaders" Team. One member of each conference school is chosen for that honor. This team honors student-athletes who have emerged as leaders not only on the field of play, but in the classroom and in the community. In addition, they "compete with honor and integrity" and have distinguished themselves and consistently exhibit the critical traits as outstanding sportsmen.
 
Cortland's All-Empire 8 selections are as follows:
 
FIRST TEAM

Name (Hometown/High School), Year, Position

Aidan Glynn (Miller Place/Miller Place), Sr., Offensive Line
Nate Graser (Liverpool/Liverpool), Sr., Offensive Line
Kevin Whalen (Montrose/Hendrick Hudson), Sr., Offensive Line
Logan Wendt (Lockport/Lockport), Sr., Fullback
George Gjelaj (Bedford/Byram Hills), Jr., Defensive Line
Aidan Lochner (Ravena/Ravena-Coeymans-Selkirk), Jr., Linebacker
Aden Wiser (Highland/Highland), Sr., Linebacker
Alessandro DeRosa (Webster/Webster Schroeder), Sr., Defensive Back
Nazair Jean-Lubin (Freeport/Freeport), Jr., Defensive Back
 
SECOND TEAM

Name (Hometown/High School), Year, Position

Mike Rescigno (Arlington/Arlington),  So., Quarterback
Ethan Gallo (Minisink/Minisink Valley), Jr., Running Back
Jake Hromada (Ancram/Hudson), Sr., Offensive Line
Sam Cotton (Fulton/G. Ray Bodley), Jr., Wide Receiver
Jacque LaPrarie (Smithtown/Smithtown West), Jr., Wide Receiver
Gavin Guers (Schuylkill Haven, PA/Blue Mountain), Sr., Defensive Line
Anthony Luciano (Loudonville/Shaker), Jr., Defensive Back
Cole Callard (Medina/Medina), Fr., Kicker

THIRD TEAM

Name (Hometown/High School), Year, Position

Dylan Kiely (Wading River/Shoreham-Wading River), Sr., Tight End
Sam Cotton (Fulton/G. Ray Bodley), Jr., All-Purpose
Allen Flore Jr. (Manorville/Eastport-South Manor), Sr., Defensive Back
Ravi Dass Jr. (Somers/Somers), Jr., Return Specialist
 
Previous All-Empire 8 honors:
 
Sam Cotton - 2023 First Team and Rookie of the Year (DB)
Ethan Gallo - 2024 First Team
Aidan Glynn - 2024 First Team
Nazair Jean-Lubin - 2024 First Team
Anthony Luciano - 2024 Third Team
Kevin Whalen - 2023 Second Team
 
Statistical highlights, to date, for each of Cortland's all-league selections follows:
 
Aden Wiser
10 games played/started, 33 tackles (22 solo), 7.0 sacks (55 yds.), 9.5 total tackles for loss (69 yds.), 1 interception, 2 pass breakups, 7 QB hurries, 1 forced fumble
 
Logan Wendt
10 games played; tight end providing blocking in a "fullback" role; 1 reception for 6 yds.
 
Aidan Glynn, Nate Graser, Kevin Whalen, Jake Hromada
Glynn, Graser, Whalen and Hromada each 10 games played/started; team is averaging 38.9 points and 394.9 total offensive yards per game (218.7 rushing, 176.2 passing, 5.8 yds. per rush); team has allowed five sacks
 
George Gjelaj
10 games played/started, 34 tackles (16 solo), 3.5 sacks (18 yds.), 7.0 total tackles for loss (32 yds.), 1 interception, 3 pass breakups, 8 QB hurries, 1 forced fumble, 2 blocked kicks
 
Aidan Lochner
10 games played/started, 67 tackles (28 solo), 1.5 sacks (12 yds.), 5.5 total tackles for loss (20 yds.), 2 interceptions, 5 pass breakups, 6 QB hurries, 3 fumble recoveries
 
Alessandro DeRosa
9 games played/8 started, 40 tackles (16 solo), 3.0 total tackles for loss (7 yds.), 1 interception, 3 pass breakups, 1 QB hurry, 1 forced fumble
 
Nazair Jean-Lubin
10 games played/started, 29 tackles (20 solo), 0.5 total tackles for loss (2 yds.), 4 interceptions, 11 pass breakups, 1 QB hurry, 1 fumble recovery, 1 forced fumble

Mike Rescigno
10 games played/started, 115-of-190 passing (60.5 percent), 1,582 yds., 22 TD, 11 interceptions, 157.1 passing efficiency rating; 141 rushes, 990 yds., 12 TD
 
Ethan Gallo
9 games played/started, 129 rushes, 590 yds., 10 TD; 10 receptions, 57 yds., 2 TD
 
Sam Cotton
10 games played/started, 28 receptions, 466 yds., 4 TD; 16 rushes, 113 yds.; 1-of-1 passing, 41 yds., 1 TD; 2 punt returns, 21 yds.
 
Jacque LaPrarie
10 games played/started, 25 receptions, 531 yds., 7 TD
 
Gavin Guers
8 games played/started, 28 tackles (15 solo), 2.5 sacks (7 yds.), 4.5 total tackles for loss (17 yds.), 1 pass breakup, 4 QB hurries, 1 fumble recovery
 
Anthony Luciano
10 games played/started, 46 tackles (24 solo), 1.5 sacks (10 yds.), 1.5 total tackles for loss (10 yds.), 1 interception, 2 pass breakups, 2 QB hurries, 2 fumble recoveries, 1 forced fumble
 
Cole Callard
10 games played/started, 51-of-51 PAT, 6-of 11 field goals (long 37), 69 points; 67 kickoffs, 60.3 yds./kickoff (15 touchbacks)
 
Dylan Kiely
10 games played, 3 receptions, 5 yds., 1 TD
 
Allen Flore Jr.
10 games played/started, 32 tackles (25 solo), 1.0 total tackles for loss (1 yd.), 2 interceptions, 6 pass breakups, 1 fumble recovery
 
Ravi Dass Jr.
8 games played, 10 punt returns, 23.7 yds./return, 1 TD; 9 kickoff returns, 18.9 yds./return