Georgia Gwinnett College infielder Payton Fort is an All-American on and off the diamond after being named to the first Academic All-America team for the 2026 season by the College Sports Communicators organization.

Earlier, the junior received third NAIA All-America team honors and was the Continental Athletic Conference Player of the Year after batting .377 and starting all 57 games in helping the Grizzlies qualify for the 2026 Avista NAIA World Series.

CSC's Academic All-America program honors student-athletes for maintaining a 3.5 or higher cumulative grade point average, competing in at least 90 percent or start in 66 percent of team games, and being at least a sophomore in academic standing.

Georgia Gwinnett College has now had 51 Academic All-Americans, including six selections during the 2025-26 athletic season. The six honorees match the most for a single athletic year in the department's 14-year history.

Fort becomes the Grizzlies' second baseball player to earn Academic All-American and All-American honors in the same season.

The business marketing major from Council Bluffs, Iowa, was among GGC's team leaders in batting average, runs batted in (61), runs scored (67), doubles (18), and home runs (7).

Georgia Gwinnett College concluded the 2026 season with a 49-8 record, won the CAC title and advanced to the NAIA World Series for the eighth consecutive season.