Olson becomes Montana’s 35th Academic All-American
12/9/2019 1:00:00 PM | Football
Record-setting Montana linebacker Dante Olson has added another to his already long list of off-field accolades, being named to the CoSIDA Academic All-American Division-I Football Team®, the organization announced Monday.
Olson, who is also a 2019 National Football Foundation Scholar-Athlete, a finalist for the William V. Campbell Trophy, and a finalist for the STATS FCS Doris Robinson Scholar-Athlete Award, is one of 25 players nationwide to earn a place on the Academic All-America second-team.
With the recognition, Olson now becomes the 35th Academic All-American in Montana history – the most of any school in Big Sky Conference history. The last Grizzly to earn Academic All-America honors was Rhodes Scholarship and Campbell Trophy Finalist Derek Crittenden in 2015.
Olson, a business management major who is also set to graduate this week with a minor in entertainment management, has carried a 3.91 cumulative GPA in his time at UM. The Medford, Oregon, native is also a four-time selection to Montana's President's Honor Roll for a 4.0 GPA, and a four-time selection to the Dean's List.
As a three-time Academic All-Big Sky pick, Olson is expected to earn those honors again in 2019. Montana has produced the second-most academic all-conference honors of any school in league history with 511 to date.
Oregon quarterback Justin Herbert was named the Academic All-America Team Member of the Year for a second-straight season with a 4.0 GPA in biology, and four other players from the Big Sky Conference were recognized by CoSIDA as well. The five Big Sky honorees are tied for the second-most in conference history and the most since 1996.
The 2019 Academic All-America® Division I Football Team selected by CoSIDA features 21 members with a 4.0 GPA and 36 members with at least a 3.90 GPA as either undergraduate or graduate student-athletes.
For more information about CoSIDA's Academic All-District® and Academic All-America® Teams program, visit AcademicAllAmerica.com or the Academic All-America® home page on CoSIDA.com.
2019 CoSIDA Academic All-America Team – NCAA Division I
FIRST TEAM
Pos. Name School Yr. GPA Major
QB Justin Herbert (1) ($) University of Oregon Sr. 4.00 General Science
RB Travis Brannan U.S. Naval Academy Sr. 4.00 Ocean Engineering
RB Ezra Gray Alabama State Sr. 4.00 Computer Information Systems
WR Brandon Arconado Washington State University Gr. 3.65 MIS (UG) / MBA (G)
WR Andrew Griffin Princeton University Sr. 3.82 Computer Science
TE Charlie Kolar Iowa State University Jr. 3.98 Mechanical Engineering
OL Jacob Bacon (1) Drake University Sr. 4.00 MBA
OL Eric Cal U.S. Naval Academy Sr. 3.93 Chemistry
OL Adam Holtorf (1) Kansas State University Gr. 3.92/3.80 Business & Agribusiness (G)
OL Jacob Marnin (1) Southern Illinois University Gr. 4.00/4.00 Criminology & Criminal Justice
OL Justin Szuba Monmouth University So. 4.00 History Education
K Rodrigo Blankenship University of Georgia Gr. 3.71/3.65 Digital/Broadcast Journalism (UG) / Journalism (G)
ST Blake Best (2) University of Kentucky Sr. 4.00 Economics & Finance
DL Isaac Adeyemi-Berglund Southeastern Louisiana University Sr. 3.81 Exercise Science
DL Kyle Finch Montana State University Jr. 4.00 Mechanical Engineering
DL Victor Jergens Drake University Sr. 3.98 Finance
DL Jack Raines Mercer University Gr. 3.99 Finance / Spanish
LB Jack Gibbens Abilene Christian University Sr. 4.00 Accounting
LB Rick Mottram Bucknell University Jr. 4.00 Mechanical Engineering
LB Lucas Weber University of Nevada Gr. 4.00 Public Health (UG) / Secondary Education (G)
DB Spencer DeMedal Duquesne University Jr. 3.98 Biology
DB Kyle Hegedus Youngstown State University Gr. 3.89/4.00 Exercise Science (UG) / Physical Therapy (G)
DB K.J. Smith University of North Alabama Sr. 4.00 Interdisciplinary Studies
DB Jelani Taylor Cornell University Sr. 3.95 Hotel Administration
P Blake Gillikin (1) Pennsylvania State University Sr. 4.00 Kinesiology
SECOND TEAM
Pos. Name School Yr. GPA Major
QB Tom Flacco (*) Towson University Gr. 4.00/3.80 Applied Information Technology (G)
RB Jake Chisholm University of Dayton So. 3.97 Pre-Med
RB Brad Sznajder (2) Butler University Sr. 3.88 Finance
WR Josh Fink (1) Abilene Christian University Sr. 3.81 Finance
WR Bryce Nunnelly Chattanooga Jr. 3.81 Mechanical Engineering
TE Ean Pfeifer University of Louisville Gr. 4.00/4.00 MBA (G)
OL Blaise Andries University of Minnesota Sr. 3.86 Mathematics
OL Graham Ashkettle Eastern Kentucky University Jr. 4.00 Chemistry
OL Isaiah Kent-Schneider Drake University Gr. 3.98/4.00 Sec. Edu./Env. Science (UG) / STEM Education (G)
OL Calvin Throckmorton University of Oregon Sr. 3.82 Human Physiology
OL Dakota Wilson (2) Idaho State University Sr. 3.97 Health Science
K Samuel Hayworth Eastern Kentucky University Gr. 3.96 Biomedical Science (UG) / Public Health (G)
ST Connor McGinnis University of Oklahoma Gr. 4.00 Finance (UG) / Finance (G)
DL Jonathan Clayton Coastal Carolina University Sr. 3.95 Business Management & Marketing
DL Brogan McPartland Harvard University Sr. 3.65 Applied Mathematics
DL Sam Renner University of Minnesota Gr. 3.54/3.60 Accountancy (G)
DL Andre Walker Houston Baptist University Sr. 3.69 Biochemistry / Molecular Biology
LB Jackson Hankey North Dakota State University Jr. 4.00 Agricultural Economics
LB Luke Nelson University of Northern Colorado Sr. 3.97 Criminology & Criminal Justice
LB Dante Olson University of Montana Sr. 3.91 Business Administration / Management
DB Jordan Fuller (1) (#) Ohio State University Sr. 3.60 Business Marketing
DB Tiger Garcia (2) UC Davis Sr. 3.92 Managerial Economics
DB Kekaula Kaniho Boise State University Jr. 3.93 Health Sciences
DB Tim Simon University of Dayton Sr. 3.83 Mechanical Engineering
P Trent Schneider University of South Florida Jr. 4.00 Communication
CoSIDA Academic All-America® Team Member of the Year: Justin Herbert, University of Oregon
(1) -- Academic All-America® Division I first team selection in 2018
(2) – Academic All-America® Division I second team selection in 2018
(*) – Academic All-America® Division I baseball second team selection in 2019
($) – Academic All-America® Division I first team selection in 2017
(#) – Academic All-America® Division I second team selection in 2017
Griz Academic All-Americans
1970 Greg Maloney
1977 Steve Fisher
1979 Ed Cerkovnik
1983 Brian Salonen
1985 Pat Sullivan
1988 Michael McGowan
John Huestis
Brad Salonen
Rick Sullivan
1989 Michael McGowan
1990 Mike McGowan
1993 Dave Dickenson
Matt Wells
1994 Dave Dickenson
Matt Wells
1995 Josh Branen
Dave Dickenson
Blaine McElmurry
Matt Wells
1996 Josh Branen
Blaine McElmurry
1997 Josh Branen
1998 Justin Olson
1999 Vince Huntsberger
Dallas Neil
2000 Vince Huntsberger
Matt Thuesen
2001 Vince Huntsberger
Ciche Pitcher
2010 Erik Stoll
2011 Bobby Alt
Bryan Waldhauser
2014 Derek Crittenden
2015 Derek Crittenden
2019 Dante Olson
Olson, who is also a 2019 National Football Foundation Scholar-Athlete, a finalist for the William V. Campbell Trophy, and a finalist for the STATS FCS Doris Robinson Scholar-Athlete Award, is one of 25 players nationwide to earn a place on the Academic All-America second-team.
With the recognition, Olson now becomes the 35th Academic All-American in Montana history – the most of any school in Big Sky Conference history. The last Grizzly to earn Academic All-America honors was Rhodes Scholarship and Campbell Trophy Finalist Derek Crittenden in 2015.
Olson, a business management major who is also set to graduate this week with a minor in entertainment management, has carried a 3.91 cumulative GPA in his time at UM. The Medford, Oregon, native is also a four-time selection to Montana's President's Honor Roll for a 4.0 GPA, and a four-time selection to the Dean's List.
As a three-time Academic All-Big Sky pick, Olson is expected to earn those honors again in 2019. Montana has produced the second-most academic all-conference honors of any school in league history with 511 to date.
Oregon quarterback Justin Herbert was named the Academic All-America Team Member of the Year for a second-straight season with a 4.0 GPA in biology, and four other players from the Big Sky Conference were recognized by CoSIDA as well. The five Big Sky honorees are tied for the second-most in conference history and the most since 1996.
The 2019 Academic All-America® Division I Football Team selected by CoSIDA features 21 members with a 4.0 GPA and 36 members with at least a 3.90 GPA as either undergraduate or graduate student-athletes.
For more information about CoSIDA's Academic All-District® and Academic All-America® Teams program, visit AcademicAllAmerica.com or the Academic All-America® home page on CoSIDA.com.
2019 CoSIDA Academic All-America Team – NCAA Division I
FIRST TEAM
Pos. Name School Yr. GPA Major
QB Justin Herbert (1) ($) University of Oregon Sr. 4.00 General Science
RB Travis Brannan U.S. Naval Academy Sr. 4.00 Ocean Engineering
RB Ezra Gray Alabama State Sr. 4.00 Computer Information Systems
WR Brandon Arconado Washington State University Gr. 3.65 MIS (UG) / MBA (G)
WR Andrew Griffin Princeton University Sr. 3.82 Computer Science
TE Charlie Kolar Iowa State University Jr. 3.98 Mechanical Engineering
OL Jacob Bacon (1) Drake University Sr. 4.00 MBA
OL Eric Cal U.S. Naval Academy Sr. 3.93 Chemistry
OL Adam Holtorf (1) Kansas State University Gr. 3.92/3.80 Business & Agribusiness (G)
OL Jacob Marnin (1) Southern Illinois University Gr. 4.00/4.00 Criminology & Criminal Justice
OL Justin Szuba Monmouth University So. 4.00 History Education
K Rodrigo Blankenship University of Georgia Gr. 3.71/3.65 Digital/Broadcast Journalism (UG) / Journalism (G)
ST Blake Best (2) University of Kentucky Sr. 4.00 Economics & Finance
DL Isaac Adeyemi-Berglund Southeastern Louisiana University Sr. 3.81 Exercise Science
DL Kyle Finch Montana State University Jr. 4.00 Mechanical Engineering
DL Victor Jergens Drake University Sr. 3.98 Finance
DL Jack Raines Mercer University Gr. 3.99 Finance / Spanish
LB Jack Gibbens Abilene Christian University Sr. 4.00 Accounting
LB Rick Mottram Bucknell University Jr. 4.00 Mechanical Engineering
LB Lucas Weber University of Nevada Gr. 4.00 Public Health (UG) / Secondary Education (G)
DB Spencer DeMedal Duquesne University Jr. 3.98 Biology
DB Kyle Hegedus Youngstown State University Gr. 3.89/4.00 Exercise Science (UG) / Physical Therapy (G)
DB K.J. Smith University of North Alabama Sr. 4.00 Interdisciplinary Studies
DB Jelani Taylor Cornell University Sr. 3.95 Hotel Administration
P Blake Gillikin (1) Pennsylvania State University Sr. 4.00 Kinesiology
SECOND TEAM
Pos. Name School Yr. GPA Major
QB Tom Flacco (*) Towson University Gr. 4.00/3.80 Applied Information Technology (G)
RB Jake Chisholm University of Dayton So. 3.97 Pre-Med
RB Brad Sznajder (2) Butler University Sr. 3.88 Finance
WR Josh Fink (1) Abilene Christian University Sr. 3.81 Finance
WR Bryce Nunnelly Chattanooga Jr. 3.81 Mechanical Engineering
TE Ean Pfeifer University of Louisville Gr. 4.00/4.00 MBA (G)
OL Blaise Andries University of Minnesota Sr. 3.86 Mathematics
OL Graham Ashkettle Eastern Kentucky University Jr. 4.00 Chemistry
OL Isaiah Kent-Schneider Drake University Gr. 3.98/4.00 Sec. Edu./Env. Science (UG) / STEM Education (G)
OL Calvin Throckmorton University of Oregon Sr. 3.82 Human Physiology
OL Dakota Wilson (2) Idaho State University Sr. 3.97 Health Science
K Samuel Hayworth Eastern Kentucky University Gr. 3.96 Biomedical Science (UG) / Public Health (G)
ST Connor McGinnis University of Oklahoma Gr. 4.00 Finance (UG) / Finance (G)
DL Jonathan Clayton Coastal Carolina University Sr. 3.95 Business Management & Marketing
DL Brogan McPartland Harvard University Sr. 3.65 Applied Mathematics
DL Sam Renner University of Minnesota Gr. 3.54/3.60 Accountancy (G)
DL Andre Walker Houston Baptist University Sr. 3.69 Biochemistry / Molecular Biology
LB Jackson Hankey North Dakota State University Jr. 4.00 Agricultural Economics
LB Luke Nelson University of Northern Colorado Sr. 3.97 Criminology & Criminal Justice
LB Dante Olson University of Montana Sr. 3.91 Business Administration / Management
DB Jordan Fuller (1) (#) Ohio State University Sr. 3.60 Business Marketing
DB Tiger Garcia (2) UC Davis Sr. 3.92 Managerial Economics
DB Kekaula Kaniho Boise State University Jr. 3.93 Health Sciences
DB Tim Simon University of Dayton Sr. 3.83 Mechanical Engineering
P Trent Schneider University of South Florida Jr. 4.00 Communication
CoSIDA Academic All-America® Team Member of the Year: Justin Herbert, University of Oregon
(1) -- Academic All-America® Division I first team selection in 2018
(2) – Academic All-America® Division I second team selection in 2018
(*) – Academic All-America® Division I baseball second team selection in 2019
($) – Academic All-America® Division I first team selection in 2017
(#) – Academic All-America® Division I second team selection in 2017
Griz Academic All-Americans
1970 Greg Maloney
1977 Steve Fisher
1979 Ed Cerkovnik
1983 Brian Salonen
1985 Pat Sullivan
1988 Michael McGowan
John Huestis
Brad Salonen
Rick Sullivan
1989 Michael McGowan
1990 Mike McGowan
1993 Dave Dickenson
Matt Wells
1994 Dave Dickenson
Matt Wells
1995 Josh Branen
Dave Dickenson
Blaine McElmurry
Matt Wells
1996 Josh Branen
Blaine McElmurry
1997 Josh Branen
1998 Justin Olson
1999 Vince Huntsberger
Dallas Neil
2000 Vince Huntsberger
Matt Thuesen
2001 Vince Huntsberger
Ciche Pitcher
2010 Erik Stoll
2011 Bobby Alt
Bryan Waldhauser
2014 Derek Crittenden
2015 Derek Crittenden
2019 Dante Olson
Players Mentioned
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