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
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