JANUARY 24, 2024:
BROOKINGS, S.D. – South Dakota State quarterback Mark Gronowski and defensive lineman Ryan Van Marel were honored Tuesday (Jan. 23, 2024) as members of the Academic All-America® Second Team as selected by the College Sports Communicators.
Gronowski has compiled a 3.71 grade-point average while majoring in mechanical engineering. On the field, he helped lead the Jackrabbits to their second consecutive Football Championship Subdivision national title after posting an FCS-best 182.72 passing efficiency rating. In addition, Gronowski was honored during the 2023 season as the winner of the Walter Payton Award as the top offensive player in the FCS, as well as the FCS Athletics Directors Association’s Offensive Player of the Year.
Van Marel meanwhile turned in a 3.85 GPA as a graduate student in mechanical engineering. A two-year starter at defensive tackle, Van Marel registered 24 total tackles in 2023, including seven tackles for loss and two sacks for a Jackrabbit unit that led the FCS ranks in both scoring defense (9.3 points per game) and total defense (257.2 yards per game). The NCAA Division I squad is made up of 51 student-athletes from both the bowl and championship subdivisions.
South Dakota State football student-athletes have been honored on CoSIDA Academic All-America teams 46 times since 1974. The Jackrabbits have placed at least one player on the squad in 17 of the last 19 seasons, including multiple selections 14 times.
(Story courtesy of Rod Fisher and gojacks.com)
JANUARY 12, 2024:
CLEVELAND — South Dakota State linebacker Adam Bock and quarterback Mark Gronowski were among the 52 student-athletes honored on the 2023 Football Championship Subdivision Athletics Directors Association Academic All-Star Team.
Bock was named to the squad after compiling a 3.84 grade-point average while majoring in mechanical engineering. On the field, he ranked third on the team with 65 tackles while playing in 10 of 15 games for the national champion Jackrabbits.
Gronowski received the honor after posting a 3.71 GPA while also majoring in mechanical engineering. Gronowski was the highest-rated quarterback in the FCS with a passer rating of 179.67 while throwing for 3,058 yards with 29 touchdowns against only five interceptions. He also was honored as the winner of the Walter Payton Award as the top offensive player in the FCS.
(Story courtesy of Rod Fisher and gojacks.com)
JANUARY 4, 2024:
CLEVELAND, Ohio — South Dakota State quarterback Mark Gronowski has been selected as Football Championship Subdivision Offensive Player of the Year by the FCS Athletics Directors Association. The announcement was made Wednesday (Jan. 3, 2024) in coordination with the 13 FCS conference offices.
A junior from Naperville, Illinois, Gronowski finished the 2023 regular season leading the FCS in passing efficiency while completing 68.5 percent of his passes for 2,359 yards and 23 touchdowns against only three interceptions. Gronowski also is one of three finalists for the Walter Payton Award, which will be presented by Stats Perform and FedEx Ground on Saturday night to the top offensive player of the year in the FCS. Details: gojacks.com
(Story courtesy of Rod Fisher.)
DECEMBER 20, 2023:
BROOKINGS, S.D. – Six members of the South Dakota State football team were selected Tuesday (Dec. 19, 2023) as members of the 2023 College Sports Communicators Academic All-District® Team. The six are DyShawn Gales, Sr., cornerback; Mark Gronowski, Jr., quarterback; Jaxon Janke, Sr., wide receiver; Caden Johnson, Sr., defensive end; Cale Reeder, Sr., safety; and Ryan Van Marel, Grad., defensive tackle.
Gales earned a spot on the CSC Academic All-District® Team for the third time, while Gronowski, Janke, Reeder and Van Marel were repeat selections. Johnson was honored for the first time.
All six student-athletes were previously recognized this fall on the Missouri Valley Football Conference All-Scholar Team.
Additionally…..
CHICAGO— Led by three-time first-team selection Garret Greenfield, five South Dakota State players were honored Tuesday (Dec. 19, 2023) on the 2023 Stats Perform FCS All-America Team.
Greenfield previously was a first-team All-America selection during the 2020-21 spring season and again in 2022. Fellow offensive lineman Mason McCormick moved up to the first team after receiving second-team honors in 2022. All four of the Jackrabbits’ selections on offense were named to the first team, including junior quarterback Mark Gronowski. Gronowski’s backfield mate Isaiah Davis earned first-team recognition at running back after topping the 1,000-yard mark in regular season play.
Representing the Jackrabbit defense on the Stats Perform FCS All-America Team was Jason Freeman, who was a third-team selection at linebacker.
South Dakota State takes its perfect 14-0 overall record and a 28 game winning streak dating back to 2022 to the National FCS Championship game to face Montana Jan. 7, 2024, in Frisco, Texas.
DECEMBER 19, 2023:
BROOKINGS,S.S. – Mark Gronowski was named the Football Championship Subdivision Offensive Player of the Year and Mason McCormick earned Offensive Lineman of the Year honors to headline a group of seven South Dakota State offensive players named to the 2023 Phil Steele FCS All-America Teams.
Joining Gronowski and McCormick on the first team were offensive tackle Garret Greenfield and running back Isaiah Davis. Three other Jackrabbits received third-team recognition, including a third member of the SDSU starting offensive line in junior Gus Miller along with tight end Zach Heins and Mike Morgan, who received recognition as a fullback.
South Dakota State is the defending FCS national champion and has earned a spot in the title game for the third time in four season and will meet second-seeded Montana Jan. 7, 2023, in Frisco, Texas.
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