Army West Point Athletics
Photo by: Danny Wild-Imagn Images
November 05, 2026 | Football
Chuck Walsh
WEST POINT, N.Y. – "I'm a student-athlete; a student first."
For Army tight end Parker Poloskey, it's always been that way.
Parker's parents are highly educated, with his dad having graduated from the University of Illinois and his mom from Northern Illinois University. As one of six siblings (three boys and three girls) who all attended various elite colleges across the United States, academic success has always been a priority within the Poloskey family.
"Our parents raised us to do our best in everything we could, especially academics," said Poloskey as the Black Knights began preparations for their annual game against Air Force. "I've been fortunate to have two great parents raise me to take academics very seriously. Being at West Point is truly a great honor."
The Boca Raton, Fla., native has certainly taken advantage of the tremendous opportunities that he has been presented with as an honor roll student throughout his career.
Poloskey is one of the most academically decorated players on the 2026 Army football team.
He's a four-time West Point academic Dean's List honoree, was named to the American Athletic Conference All-Academic Team in both 2025 and 2026, and was a semifinalist for the William V. Campbell Trophy presented by the National Football Foundation to the collegiate player with the best combination of academic success, on-field performance, and exemplary leadership.
"Being named a semifinalist for the Campbell Trophy is a very humbling accomplishment," said Poloskey. "Some of the smartest and brightest athletes throughout the United States earn that opportunity. To be on the same scale with those guys is truly on honor."
While he is among the best academically in college football this season, Poloskey was recognized with two of the highest academic honors a cadet can receive from Army West Point. He was presented the Distinguished Cadet Award and Superintendent's Award as a sophomore in 2024.
The Distinguished Cadet Award is presented annually to cadets who rank in the top five percent of their class based on their annual QPA. Each of the recipients receives a gold star.
The Superintendent's Award recognizes cadets who achieve top-tier performance across the three core pillars of the academy: academic, military, and physical development.
"I'm extremely grateful to have been nominated for both awards," said Poloskey. "There are so many great cadets at this institution, and to be considered to be on par with them is humbling and truly an honor."
Poloskey is one of nearly 1,500 exceedingly accomplished student-athletes at Army West Point who are among the top academic achievers in all of college athletics.
"What makes Parker so exceptional is not simply what he has accomplished, but the discipline and determination required to achieve it," said Army Associate Director of Athletics for Academics John Healy. "Balancing the extraordinary demands of academics, athletics, and military development is no small feat, and his relentless pursuit of excellence sets a remarkable standard for what it means to be a cadet-athlete at West Point."
Poloskey's academic success is deeply rooted in his family's core values.
"One of my sisters was the valedictorian of her high school class and most of my brothers and sisters have graduated within the top five to 10 percent of their high school classes," said Poloskey. "My parents pushed us to earn academic success. Academic success was really important to my family."
Poloskey is pursuing an engineering management degree at West Point.
"My course of study as an engineering management major affords you the tools to do a lot of different things," said Poloskey. "I was able to take a capstone class as part of my degree requirements, which allows you to do research on a specific topic that you enjoy. I chose to write a paper on space, and the role satellites play in our everyday life. The tools that allow us to understand space and specifically to apply decision analysis are what I worked on during that study."
With graduation from the academy approaching quickly for Poloskey, he's earned the opportunity to graduate with academic accolades.
"I have earned the option to graduate with honors," said Poloskey. "I have to take more classes next semester, and it is certainly something I'm considering. That would be a proud achievement that I am possibly looking forward to doing."
Secure Your Seats
There is no setting quite like West Point. To purchase directly online now, visit GoArmyWestPoint.com/ticketsor call 1-877-TIX-ARMY.
Need other ticket options? Complete the form HERE identifying your ticket interests and an Army representative will contact you!
Army West Point Athletic Association, Inc. (AWPAA)
AWPAA is an IRS code 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation established to execute the United States Military Academy's intercollegiate athletics program. AWPAA is led by a board of directors that provides guidance to the director of athletics, who serves as the primary advisor to the USMA Superintendent and the USMA leadership on all NCAA operations. The AWPAA mission is to recruit, educate, train and inspire leaders of character who are committed to the Army values through an extraordinary Division I athletic experience.
—www.goarmywestpoint.com—
For Army tight end Parker Poloskey, it's always been that way.
Parker's parents are highly educated, with his dad having graduated from the University of Illinois and his mom from Northern Illinois University. As one of six siblings (three boys and three girls) who all attended various elite colleges across the United States, academic success has always been a priority within the Poloskey family.
"Our parents raised us to do our best in everything we could, especially academics," said Poloskey as the Black Knights began preparations for their annual game against Air Force. "I've been fortunate to have two great parents raise me to take academics very seriously. Being at West Point is truly a great honor."
The Boca Raton, Fla., native has certainly taken advantage of the tremendous opportunities that he has been presented with as an honor roll student throughout his career.
Poloskey is one of the most academically decorated players on the 2026 Army football team.
He's a four-time West Point academic Dean's List honoree, was named to the American Athletic Conference All-Academic Team in both 2025 and 2026, and was a semifinalist for the William V. Campbell Trophy presented by the National Football Foundation to the collegiate player with the best combination of academic success, on-field performance, and exemplary leadership.
"Being named a semifinalist for the Campbell Trophy is a very humbling accomplishment," said Poloskey. "Some of the smartest and brightest athletes throughout the United States earn that opportunity. To be on the same scale with those guys is truly on honor."
While he is among the best academically in college football this season, Poloskey was recognized with two of the highest academic honors a cadet can receive from Army West Point. He was presented the Distinguished Cadet Award and Superintendent's Award as a sophomore in 2024.
The Distinguished Cadet Award is presented annually to cadets who rank in the top five percent of their class based on their annual QPA. Each of the recipients receives a gold star.
The Superintendent's Award recognizes cadets who achieve top-tier performance across the three core pillars of the academy: academic, military, and physical development.
"I'm extremely grateful to have been nominated for both awards," said Poloskey. "There are so many great cadets at this institution, and to be considered to be on par with them is humbling and truly an honor."
Poloskey is one of nearly 1,500 exceedingly accomplished student-athletes at Army West Point who are among the top academic achievers in all of college athletics.
"What makes Parker so exceptional is not simply what he has accomplished, but the discipline and determination required to achieve it," said Army Associate Director of Athletics for Academics John Healy. "Balancing the extraordinary demands of academics, athletics, and military development is no small feat, and his relentless pursuit of excellence sets a remarkable standard for what it means to be a cadet-athlete at West Point."
Poloskey's academic success is deeply rooted in his family's core values.
"One of my sisters was the valedictorian of her high school class and most of my brothers and sisters have graduated within the top five to 10 percent of their high school classes," said Poloskey. "My parents pushed us to earn academic success. Academic success was really important to my family."
Poloskey is pursuing an engineering management degree at West Point.
"My course of study as an engineering management major affords you the tools to do a lot of different things," said Poloskey. "I was able to take a capstone class as part of my degree requirements, which allows you to do research on a specific topic that you enjoy. I chose to write a paper on space, and the role satellites play in our everyday life. The tools that allow us to understand space and specifically to apply decision analysis are what I worked on during that study."
With graduation from the academy approaching quickly for Poloskey, he's earned the opportunity to graduate with academic accolades.
"I have earned the option to graduate with honors," said Poloskey. "I have to take more classes next semester, and it is certainly something I'm considering. That would be a proud achievement that I am possibly looking forward to doing."
Secure Your Seats
There is no setting quite like West Point. To purchase directly online now, visit GoArmyWestPoint.com/ticketsor call 1-877-TIX-ARMY.
Need other ticket options? Complete the form HERE identifying your ticket interests and an Army representative will contact you!
Army West Point Athletic Association, Inc. (AWPAA)
AWPAA is an IRS code 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation established to execute the United States Military Academy's intercollegiate athletics program. AWPAA is led by a board of directors that provides guidance to the director of athletics, who serves as the primary advisor to the USMA Superintendent and the USMA leadership on all NCAA operations. The AWPAA mission is to recruit, educate, train and inspire leaders of character who are committed to the Army values through an extraordinary Division I athletic experience.
—www.goarmywestpoint.com—
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