The Nebraska Wesleyan University football team had 12 players honored as Daktronics/NAIA Scholar Athletes when the awards were announced at the NAIA Football Championships.

The 12 award winners for NWU were the most of any other team in the country. Only one other team had 10 winners as that was Carroll College.

To earn the Daktronics/NAIA Scholar athlete recognition you must have a 3.5 cumulative GPA, be a junior or senior member of the team, and have attended the school for one year.

Nebraska Wesleyan had six seniors and six juniors earn the NAIA Scholar Athlete honor. On offense NWU was represented by quarterback Nate Hauptman, running backs Tim Immonen, Christian Schmohr and Taylor Stockamp, wide receiver Brian Pieper, tight end Matt Edwards and offensive lineman Jade Heiden, Garek Bebee and Sam Rickaby. On the defensive side of the ball, defensive backs Cody Eiler and Kevin Janata and defensive lineman Russell Walton round out the list of NWU award winners.

Nebraska Wesleyan has now had 104 football players earn the NAIA Scholar Athlete award.

2011 NWU Daktronics/NAIA Scholar Athletes

Garek Bebee, Sr., OL, Wakefield, Neb.

Matt Edwards, Sr., TE, Gretna, Neb.

Cody Eiler, Jr., DB, O’Neill, Neb.

Nate Hauptman, Jr., QB, Omaha, Neb.

Jace Heiden, Sr., OL, Bertrand, Neb.

Tim Immonen, Sr., RB, Plattsmouth, Neb.

Kevin Janata, Sr., DB, Howells, Neb.

Brian Pieper, Jr., WR, North Platte, Neb.

Sam Rickaby, Sr., OL, Arvada, Colo.

Christian Schmohr, Jr., RB, Lincoln, Neb.

Taylor Stockamp, Jr., RB, Scribner, Neb.

Russell Walton, Jr., DL, Franklin, Neb.