Two members of the Holy Cross football team earned 2024 Academic All-Patriot League honors, as announced by the conference on Wednesday, Nov. 27: fifth-year center Christo Kelly and senior linebacker Frankie Monte. 

A 2024 All-Patriot League first team selection, Kelly started all 12 games at center for the Crusaders this year. The Holy Cross offensive line conceded just 13 sacks this season — their 1.08 sacks allowed per game was the best mark in the Patriot League and 11th-best nationally, and the Crusaders only conceded nine sacks total against FCS competition. Holy Cross' offensive line helped Holy Cross average 27.6 points per contest this season.

Kelly is one of 22 finalists across all of college football for the 2024 AFCA Good Works Team, and serves as co-president of the Holy Cross Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. An economics major, Kelly earned 2023 Academic All-District honors from the College Sports Communicators and is a four-time Patriot League Academic Honor Roll selection. 

Monte earned his first Academic All-Patriot League selection after being named an All-Patriot League first team selection on Tuesday, Nov. 26. In 2024, Monte ranked in the top 10 nationally in total tackles (119) and fumble recoveries (3). A team captain, Monte also paced the strong Crusader defense with 4.5 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, an interception, two pass breakups and two forced fumbles. He was a three-time Patriot League Defensive Player of the Week in his career and received the New England Football Writers' Gold Helmet Award in back-to-back weeks this season, in addition to being named NCAA.com's FCS Player of the Week after a stellar senior day showing against Bucknell. 

Monte is a two-time Patriot League Academic Honor Roll selection as a political science major. He ended his Holy Cross career with 217 tackles in 47 games played.

The Academic All-Patriot League teams are voted on by Patriot League football sports information directors, who are not eligible to vote for their student-athletes. To be eligible, a student-athlete must have reached sophomore academic standing with at least a 3.20 cumulative grade point average, and be a starter or key reserve. These honors recognize student-athletes who excel in their sport and the classroom. 

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