The lone resident on Ciccio Island is now an All-American.

On Tuesday, Colorado Mesa University defensive back Nick Ciccio was the lone Maverick named to the American Football Coaches Association All-American Team. The selection committee is made up of three coaches from each of the AFCA’s seven districts. Those committees are responsible ranking the top players in their respective districts. 

Ciccio was the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference leader in interceptions with eight and was tied for first in the Super Region IV for the same stat. The Castle Pines native had three games with multiple interceptions and was responsible for helping the Mavericks have the third best passing defense and second most interceptions by a defense in the conference. 

Nick also ranked among the best corners in the nation as he was in the top four players in interceptions per game with 0.7. 

Ciccio is only a redshirt-sophomore and is one of three underclassmen named as All-Americans on the First-Team Defense. Fellow RMAC player Jackson Wibbles from CSU-Pueblo was also named to the First-Team Defense as a defensive lineman. Wibbles is another Colorado native as he went to Pine Creek High School. 

Grant Stewart, an offensive lineman from Colorado School of Mines, is the only other RMAC player ot be named to the  AFCA Division II Coaches’ All-America-First Team. 

This season, Ciccio had 60 tackles and 22 passes defended with is a high among all CMU secondary players. He also returned three of his interceptions for touchdowns.