Olson named First-Team Academic All-District

University of Montana senior linebacker Dante Olson has been selected the Academic All-District 6 First-Team by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA), which recognizes the nation's top student-athletes for their combined achievements on the field and in the classroom.

Olson, a 2015 graduate of Cascade Christian High School in Medford, Oregon, carries a 3.91 cumulative GPA and is set to graduate from the University of Montana College of Business in December with a degree in business management and a minor in entertainment management.

A record-breaking performer on the field, Olson is one of Montana's most decorated players in terms of athletic and academic achievement as the 2018 NCAA Statistical Champion in tackles and is a finalist for the 2019 National Football Foundation's William V. Campbell Trophy as an NFF Scholar-Athlete.

Olson will make his 22nd consecutive start for the Grizzlies this weekend against Weber State and his 42nd appearance in his four-year career. In that time, he's become one of the top five tacklers in program history with a career total of 338 tackles. He set a new Montana school record as a junior with 151 total tackles in a single season and currently leads all players in FCS football again this year with 120 tackles to date, and two regular-season games left to play.

Olson is a 2018 FCS Athletic Director's Association Academic All-Star, a three-time Academic All-Big Sky selection, and a four-time selection to Montana's President's Honor Roll for a 4.0 GPA.

In October, Olson was named to the Allstate American Football Coaches Association Good Works team for his community service work in mentoring a class of underprivileged third graders as part of the "No Excuses University" program.

First-team Academic All-District honorees advance to the CoSIDA Academic All-America ballot. First- and second-team (if applicable) Academic All-America honorees will be announced in early December.

MORE ON OLSON

Scholastic Honors and Accomplishments:
2018 FCS Athletic Director's Association Academic All-Star
Four-time selection to Montana's President's Honor Roll for 4.0 GPA (Spring 2016, Spring 2017, Fall 2018, Spring 2019)
Four-time selection to Dean's List: Fall 2015, Fall 2016, Fall 2017, Spring 2018,
Three-time Academic All-Big Sky (2016, '17, & '18)
Two-time recipient of Montana's William (Robi) Robertson Memorial Athletic Scholarship

Football Achievements

Career Statistics (as of 11/14/19):

	GP	SOLO	AST	TOT	TFL-YDS	SACKS-YDS	INT	PD	FF	FR	BLK
2016	12	7	22	29	2-6	1-3	0	0	0	0	0
2017	11	16	22	38	2-9	1-7	0	0	0	0	1
2018	11	57	94	151	11-55	6-43	2	5	3	0	0
2019	10	49	71	120	7.5-35	2.5-27	1	2	1	1	0
TOTAL	45	129	209	338	22.5-105	10.5-80	3	7	4	1	1

Individual Football Honors and Records:
2019 Season (senior – as of 11/14/19):

Currently leading the FCS in total tackles with 120
Became one of Montana's top-five all-time tacklers on 11/9 vs. Idaho.
2019 NFF National Scholar-Athlete and Finalist for the William V. Campbell Trophy
Named to the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team
Phil Steele Magazine All-America First Team
Phil Steele Magazine All-Big Sky First Team
Butkus Award Watch List (Only FCS Player on the list)
Buck Buchanan Award Watch List
Big Sky Conference Preseason Defensive Player of the Year
STATS FCS Preseason All-American
Athlon Sports Preseason All-American
HERO Sports Preseason All-American
College Football America Yearbook Preseason Starting Lineup

2018 Season (junior):

Set Montana school record for single season tackles (151)
NCAA Statistical Champion for Tackles Per Game (13.7 – the most in FCS or FBS football)
Top-three finalist for the STATS FCS Buck Buchanan Award
Phil Steele 2018 FCS Defensive Player of the Year
Phil Steele Big Sky Defensive Player of the Year
Phil Steele First-Team All-American
Athlon Sports All-American
STATS FCS First-Team All-American
Walter Camp Foundation All-American
Associated Press First-Team All-American
American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) First-Team All-American
HERO Sports First-Team All-American
First-Team All-Big Sky Defense
Steve Carlson Team MVP
Grizzly Team Defensive MVP
2018 GoGriz.com Person of the Year
Three-time ROOT Sports Big Sky Player of the Week
STATS FCS National Defensive Player of the Week (9/8)