K-State Leads Big 12 in Academic Honors for Fourth-Straight Year

K-State Leads Big 12 in Academic Honors for Fourth-Straight Year

Nov 16, 2017 | Football

MANHATTAN, Kan. – For the fourth time in as many years, Kansas State's football program led the Big 12 in Academic All-Big 12 selections as 28 Wildcats were honored by the conference on Thursday.

The 28 Wildcats honored were one shy of the school record set by the 2014 and 2016 squads, while the 19 first-team members were one shy of tying the school record. Since head coach Bill Snyder's return to the sidelines in 2009, the Wildcats have totaled 172 Academic All-Big 12 recipients (19.1 per year), including 123 on the first team (13.7 per year).

Additionally, Kansas State has totaled 111 Academic All-Big 12 honors over the last four years, 35 more than the next closest team.

Headlining this year's list were a Big 12-best three players that were nominated with a 4.0 GPA in wide receiver Zach Reuter (biochemistry) – who tallied a 4.0 GPA for a second-straight year – offensive lineman Adam Holtorf (agribusiness) and defensive back Brock Monty (business administration). Reuter, who earned first-team honors last year, is one of nine Wildcats repeating as first-team honorees, joining defensive back Brogan Barry (2016; biology), offensive lineman Scott Frantz (2016; secondary education), tight end Blaise Gammon (2016; finance), defensive back Colby Moore (2016; public relations), offensive lineman Dalton Risner (2016; communication studies), linebacker Trent Tanking (2014 and 2016; industrial engineering), tight end Dayton Valentine (2015-16; kinesiology) and defensive end Tanner Wood (2014-16; animal sciences & industry).

Other Wildcats earning first-team accolades this year include Kyle Ball (business administration), Dylan Couch (business administration), Alex Delton (physical education), Bryce Fitzner (management), Denzel Goolsby (finance), Mitch Lochbihler (construction science and management), Dalton Schoen (mechanical engineering) and Carlos Strickland II (sociology).

K-State's second-team members were comprised of Evan Curl (mechanical engineering), Winston Dimel (management), Trey Dishon (social sciences), Nick Kaltmayer (electrical engineering), Jayd Kirby (criminology), Reid Najvar (management), Drew Scott (entrepreneurship), Nick Walsh (finance) and Dalvin Warmack (management).

Nominated by each institution's director of student-athlete support services, the 2017 football academic all-league squad is comprised of 120 first-team members combined with 78 on the second team. First-team members consist of those who have maintained a 3.20 or better GPA, and the second team are those who have a 3.00 to 3.19 GPA.

To qualify, student-athletes must maintain a 3.00 GPA or higher either cumulative or the two previous semesters and must have participated in 20 percent of their team's scheduled contests. Freshmen and transfers are not eligible in their first year of academic residence. Senior student-athletes who have participated for a minimum of two years and meet all the criteria except percent of participation are also eligible.

K-State travels to 10^th-ranked Oklahoma State on Saturday, a 2:30 p.m., contest inside Boone Pickens Stadium that will be shown nationally on ESPN2.

The Wildcats return home for Senior Day against Iowa State on Saturday, November 25. The game will kick off at either 11 a.m., on FS1 or 2:30 p.m., on ESPN2 or ESPNU, and a determination for kick time and television designation will be made Sunday morning.

Tickets for the home finale are available for $65 apiece or $37.25 per ticket when purchasing a Wildcat 4 Pack. Fans can buy tickets by clicking here, calling 1-800-221-CATS or visiting the main ticket office inside Bramlage Coliseum.