NDSU linebacker Cole Wisniewski has been honored with the Elite 90 award for the 2021 NCAA Division I Football Championship. He was recognized after the NDSU team photo at Toyota Stadium on Jan. 6.

The sophomore from Sparta, Wisconsin., has a 4.00 grade-point average majoring in business administration.

The Elite 90, an award founded by the NCAA, recognizes the individual who has reached the national championship level in his or her sport, while also achieving the highest academic standard among his or her peers.

This is NDSU’s 15th Elite 90 award across five different sports, and Wisniewski is the eighth at the FCS championship game. He joins linebacker Esley Thorton (2013), quarterback Carson Wentz (2014-16), wide receiver Daniel Polansky (2018), tight end Ben Ellefson (2019) and linebacker Jackson Hankey (2020).

Eligible student-athletes are sophomores or above academically who have participated in a sport for at least two years with their school. Ties are broken by the number of credits completed.

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