Three Gophers – long snapper Payton Jordahl and defensive linemen Gary Moore and Sam Renner – earned Academic All-America honors as selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America. The honor recognizes players for their combined performances on the field and in the classroom.
Jordahl and Moore, both seniors, earned first-team honors, while Renner, a junior, was named to the second team. That ties a single-season program record for Academic All-America honors, joining the trio of Justin Conzemius, Omar Douglas and Jeff Rosga, who each earned second-team honors in 1993.
Jordahl and Moore are pursuing their master's degrees in youth development leadership, while Renner is seeking his master's of accountancy. All three carry 4.0 grade-point averages, joining 14 other Division I players with that status.
Jordahl has spent all four seasons as the Gophers' primary long snapper. Moore has been a key player in the defensive line rotation, and finished the season with 24 tackles, four tackles for loss and a half-sack. Renner had 13 tackles, a pass breakup and a blocked punt this season.
The Gophers' last Academic All-America selection before this year was tight end Brandon Lingen in 2015.
