Cornell football wide receiver Samuel Musungu ’27 and tight end Ryder Kurtz ’27 were selected to the 2025 FCS Football Central Preseason All-America Teams. The pair will join four other Ivy Schools in sending players to the game for the first time.
The selection to the team comes after the decision to allow the Ivy League to participate in the FCS playoffs this fall. The team features 113 players representing all 13 FCS conferences and 51 schools.
Musungu told The Sun that it was “a blessing” to be selected to compete. While he won’t be competing this fall due to a knee injury, Musungu was honored by the selection.
“I thank God that I was able to play at a high enough level to get recognized for my work last year on the field,” Musungu said. “But preseason awards don’t mean anything unless you back it up with your play during the year so I take it with a grain of salt.”
Musungu was also recently named to the Walter Payton Award Watch List. This past season, he led the Red in three offensive categories — 960 receiving yards, 83 receptions and 10 touchdowns.
Due to his injury, Musungu has shifted his goals for the season and wants to “be an open book” for members of the offensive to lean on when necessary. He hopes to lead the team as much as possible off the field. This off season, Musungu focused on rehabilitation for his knee and watching film.
Musungu said his success was possible due his teammates, coaches and family supporting him.
“They’ve been pushing me towards a higher standard every workout, practice, meeting and I thank them for that because sometimes you just need an extra push,” Musungu said. “Also my family and faith, without my family's support it would be hard to get to where I have and as well as my faith in God.”
Kurtz said it “was an honor” to be named to the team given that his goal is “to play in the NFL” one day. This season, he wants to contribute to the team in any way possible — whether it be catching passes, blocking or adding a positive presence to the locker room.
He also added that for the Ivy League to contribute players to the team was “exciting” and a “step in the right direction” for the athletic conference.
“Given that this is the first year for the Ivy League to compete in the FCS playoffs it made it more of an honor to be selected since the Ivy League does not get as much recognition as other teams,” Kurtz said.
Kurtz was an instrumental part of the Cornell offense last season — with his 36 receptions for 441 yards and four touchdowns. He hopes to “lead by example” this season and “contribute to Cornell earning a spot” in the FCS playoffs.
“I want to be able to lead by example this year and I really just want to step into a bigger leadership role this season,” Kurtz said. “Whether it be in the weight room, on the field or when we are watching film I want to follow Coach Swanstrom’s plans and push the team.”
Both Kurtz and Musungu commented positively on Swanstrom’s effect on the offense.
“[Swanstrom] has been amazing,” Kurtz said. “To be coached by him and his offensive mind has been incredible. We went from not scoring a lot of points last year to scoring nearly 35 points a game last year and that’s really because of our new offensive system under him.”
Zeinab Faraj is a member of the class of 2028 in the College of Arts and Sciences. She is the features editor on the 143rd Editorial Board and was the assistant sports editor of the 143rd Editorial Board. You can reach her at zfaraj@cornellsun.com.
