Story by NU Athletic Communications
Nebraska had a total of 103 student-athletes earn Fall Academic All-Big Ten recognition as announced by the Conference Office on Monday.
The group of Husker student-athletes includes 50 football players, 22 soccer student-athletes, 16 women’s cross country athletes, eight volleyball student-athletes and seven members of the men’s cross country team.
The Husker honorees included three student-athletes who earned a 4.0 grade-point average for the academic year, including Alea Hardie, a cross country runner from Sioux Falls, S.D., McKenna Lovehaug, a cross country student-athlete from Fargo, N.D., and Abby Vacek, a soccer player from Lincoln.
The 50 football honorees were led by seven players who earned Academic All-Big Ten honors for a fourth time. That group includes offensive tackle Bryce Benhart, tight end John Goodwin, linebacker Nick Henrich, defensive lineman Jacob Herbek, offensive lineman Ethan Piper, linebacker Luke Reimer and linebacker Garrett Snodgrass. A total of 11 football student-athletes made the academic list for the third time in their career.
Soccer student-athlete Marissa Popoola earned Academic All-Big Ten recognition for the fourth year, while teammates Audra Clark, Eleanor Dale, Gwen Lane and Reagan Raabe were recognized for the third time.
Four volleyball student-athletes earned Academic All-Big Ten recognition for a second time including Ally Batenhorst, Lindsay Krause, Kennedi Orr and Lexi Rodriguez.
Men’s cross country runner Jerry Jorgensen picked up his fourth honor, while Trevor Acton and Adam Christopher were honored for a third time. On the women’s side, Taya Skelton earned Academic All-Big Ten for a fourth time, while fellow runners Jacquelyn Abanes, Lindsey Blehm, Brynna McQuillen, Katelyn Mullinax and Emma Ralston each picked up a third award.
To be eligible for Academic All-Big Ten selection, students must be on a varsity team (as verified by being on the official squad list as of Nov. 1 for fall sports), have been enrolled full time at the institution for a minimum of 12 months and carry a cumulative grade-point average of 3.0 or higher.