UNK Football: Kraus Named Academic All-American

Eighth Loper to Earn Academic AA Status

Kearney, Neb. – Nebraska Kearney redshirt senior punter and co-captain Hunter Kraus has been named to the 2022 Academic All-American team as selected by the College Sports Communicators. Kraus (Taylor/Twin Loup H.S.) becomes just the eighth Loper to win this award and the first in six years. He earns second-team honors and is one of six MIAA players on the squad. ​ This longtime award is in the first year of a new qualification process. Student-athletes that have a 3.50 cumulative grade point average, been at their current school one full-year and play in half their teams events qualify for Academic All-District honors. A football team can have eight such qualifiers; Academic All-Americans are then voted on by CSC's (sports information directors) from around the country. Previously, student-athletes with a 3.25 GPA could be nominated for Academic All-District honors and a vote from within the District selected the winners/qualifiers. Through the 2022 spring semester Kraus maintains a 3.95 GPA as an Exercise Science major. He's been an active member of UNK's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) in his time at UNK, serving as Community Service Co-Chair in 2021-222 and as Vice President this academic year. On the field, Kraus earned third-team All-MIAA honors this fall after averaging 42.5 yards a boot. He had seven punts that traveled over 50 yards, had 37% of his attempts fair caught and 34% land inside the opponents 20-yard line. Kraus is slated to be a super senior in 2023 and his career average of 40.93 ranks second in school history, trailing only two-time NAIA All-American Scott Schug (41.43). UNK went 8-3 this past season, spending time in the national and regional rankings and tying for third place in the MIAA. Loper Football's All-Time CSC/CoSIDA Academic All-Americans

Year

Name/Cl.

Pos.

Team

1970

John Mackovicka/Sr.

RB

N/A

1975

Tim Brodahl/Sr.

End

N/A

1995

Chad Vokoun/Sr.

OL

2nd

1996

Regan Wilcox/Sr.

DL

2nd

1999

Volker Olbrich/Sr.

K

1st

2005

Kyle Rupp/R-Sr.

WR

1st

2016

Tyke Kozeal/R-Sr.

LB

1st

2022

Hunter Kraus/R-Sr.

P

2nd