The Nebraska Wesleyan University football team had 14 players honored as Daktronics/NAIA Scholar Athletes when the awards were announced at the NAIA Football Championships.

The 14 award winners for Nebraska Wesleyan were the most of any other team in the country.  No other football team had over 10 Scholar Athletes, with the next highest total being nine for Peru State 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 eight seniors and six juniors earn the NAIA Scholar Athlete honor.  On offense NWU was represented by quarterbacks Paul Aylward, Matt Hagge and A.J. Pomajzl, running back Jerod Franck, tight end Ben Iske and offensive linemen Garek Bebee and Dan Beckmann.  On the defensive side of the ball, defensive linemen Jordan Mruz and Lane Skavdahl, safeties Luke Luetchens, Cole Meyer and Garrett Rippen earned the honor.  Kicker Zach Egger and punter Ethan Hunke round out the list of NWU award winners.

Nebraska Wesleyan has now had 86 football players earn the NAIA Scholar Athlete award.

2009 NWU Daktronics/NAIA Scholar Athletes

Paul Aylward, Sr., QB, Lincoln, Neb.

Garek Bebee, Jr., OL, Wakefield, Neb.

Dan Beckmann, Sr., OL, North Platte, Neb.

Zach Egger, Jr., K, Wood River, Neb.

Jerod Franck, Sr., RB, Seward, Neb.

Matt Hagge, Sr., QB, Plattsmouth, Neb.

Ethan Hunke, Jr., P, West Point, Neb.

Ben Iske, Sr., TE, Gretna, Neb.

Luke Luetchens, Sr., DB, Murdock, Neb.

Cole Meyer, Jr., DB, Friend, Neb.

Jordan Mruz, Jr., DL, Fremont, Neb.

A.J. Pomajzl, Sr., QB, Grand Island, Neb.

Garrett Rippen, Sr., DB, Culbertson, Neb.

Lane Skavdahl, Jr., DL, Harrison, Neb.