NDSU’s Wentz, Vraa, Morlock, Menard Voted Academic All-District

FARGO, N.D. - North Dakota State had four players selected to the CoSIDA Academic All-District™ football team Thursday, Nov. 5, by a vote of the College Sports Information Directors of America.

Quarterback Carson Wentz, wide receiver Zach Vraa, running back Chase Morlock and defensive end Greg Menard each advance to the ballot for CoSIDA Academic All-America® honors to be announced in early December.

To be eligible, student-athletes must be starters or key reserves with a cumulative 3.30 grade-point average and sophomore athletic and academic standing.

Wentz, a senior from Bismarck, N.D., has a 4.0 GPA in health and physical education.  He made the CoSIDA Academic All-America® first team last season and is a two-time NCAA Elite 89 award winner.  The second-year team captain was 114 of 179 passing for 1,454 yards and 16 touchdowns in the first six games this season before being sidelined with a wrist injury.

Vraa, a senior from Rosemount, Minn., has a 3.56 GPA and holds a bachelor's degree in sport management.  He was a CoSIDA Academic All-District™ selection last year and is NDSU's career leader in pass receptions and receiving yards.  Vraa has 28 catches for 299 yards and two touchdowns in eight games this year.

Morlock, a junior from Moorhead, Minn., has a 3.80 GPA in exercise science and has played in 37 of 39 possible games for the Bison in his career.  He is one of NDSU's top two running backs this year with 57 carries for 208 yards and four touchdowns and also has 14 pass receptions for 217 yards and four touchdowns.

Menard, a sophomore from Lakeville, Minn., has a 3.90 GPA in civil engineering and has made all eight starts at right end this year.  He ranks 17th nationally in sacks (6.0), leads the Bison defense in tackles for loss (9.0) and quarterback hurries (7), and is fourth on the team with 36 tackles.

2015 CoSIDA Academic All-District 6

Division I
QB - Carson Wentz, North Dakota State, 4.00, Health and Physical Education
WR - Jake Wieneke, South Dakota State, 3.67, Physical Education/Teacher Education
WR - Zach Vraa, North Dakota State, 3.56, Sport Management
TE - Brandon Lingen, Minnesota, 3.85, Pre-engineering
RB - Marshall Wadleigh, Tulane, 4.00, Finance
RB - Chase Morlock, North Dakota State, 3.80, Exercise Science
OL - Jacob Rathmacher, Northern Iowa, 3.87, Biology and Biochemistry
OL - Jon Christenson, Minnesota, 3.59 (3.97 grad), Biochemistry/Public Health Administration
OL - Dan Voltz, Wisconsin, 3.53, Kinesiology
OL - Cameron Tom, Southern Mississippi, 3.76, Marketing
OL - Kyle Stouffer, Central Arkansas, 3.75, Finance
P - Luke Ferguson, Arkansas State, 3.50 (4.00 grad), Master’s of Business Administration
K - Shelby Harris, Missouri State, 3.99, Cell and Molecular Biology
DB - Nick Mears, South Dakota State, 4.00, Economics
DB - Jordan Lomax, Iowa, 3.49, Sport and Recreation Management
DB - Picasso Nelson Jr., Southern Mississippi, 3.73, Finance
DB - Briean Boddy-Calhoun, Minnesota, 3.34, Human Resource Development
LB - Geoffrey Hebert, Nicholls State, 4.00, Finance and Accounting
LB - Brooks Ellis, Arkansas, 3.77, Exercise Science/Pre-Professional Science
LB - Taylor Coleman, Drake, 3.77, Finance
DL - Karter Schult, Northern Iowa, 3.83, Exercise Science/Family Services
DL - Greg Menard, North Dakota State, 3.90, Civil Engineering
DL - Shayne Gottlob, South Dakota State, 3.96, Economics
DL - Isaac Ales, Northern Iowa, 3.44, Physical Education
DL - Drew Ott, Iowa, 3.33, Health and Human Physiology