Ten Fighting Hawks named to MVFC All-Academic Teams
ST. LOUIS, Mo. – Ten University of North Dakota (UND) football student-athletes were named to the 2024 Missouri Valley Football Conference (MVFC) All-Academic Teams, the league offices announced. The Fighting Hawks led the conference with ten players receiving an academic accolade.
Nominees must be starters or important reserves; must have participated in at least 50% of their team’s games and carry a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.50 (on a 4.0 scale). Nominees in graduate school must have a cumulative GPA of 3.50 or better both as an undergraduate and in graduate school.
Additionally, nominees must have reached sophomore athletic and academic standing at their institution and must have completed at least one calendar year at their institution. True freshmen, red-shirt freshmen and ineligible athletic transfers are not eligible.
Graduate students who are competing at a different institution than the one from which they earned their undergraduate degree are eligible even if they are in their first semester at the graduate institution.
League sports information directors voted on the team by designating 11 players for first-team honors and 11 players for second-team honors.
Simon Romfo, QB, Jr., Calvin,, MVFC Academic First Team (3.94 Finance)
Started all 12 games at quarterback … Ranks No. 4 in the MVFC in passing touchdowns (18) … Went 183-for-301 passing for 2,051 yards and 18 touchdowns while surrendering eight interceptions … Rushed 101 times for 296 yards and four scores … Recorded a season-high 57 yards rushing in the 27-24 win over No. 4 Montana … Put down a season-best 287 passing yards in the 52-28 victory against Idaho State … Had two games with 20-or-more completions … Threw three touchdown passes in three games.
Caleb Olson, OL, So., Fort Ransom,, MVFC Academic Second Team (3.97 Kinesiology)
Started all 12 games at right guard … His blocking helped UND rank No. 15 in the FCS in red-zone scoring (89.6 percent), No. 20 in third down conversion percentage (45.6) and No. 20 in time of possession (31:32) … Helped NoDak pile up over 400 yards of offense three times, highlighted by 601 yards in the 72-35 win over Murray State.
Grady Kentch, DL, Jr., Snohomish, Wash., MVFC Academic Second Team (4.00 Mathematics)
Started four games on the defensive line and saw action in all 12 contests … Accumulated 8.0 total tackles, a half a sack and five quarterback hurries … Put down a season-high two quarterback hurries in the 27-24 win over No. 4 Montana … Recorded a half a sack at Illinois State.
David Neuberger, LS, Jr., Davenport, Iowa, MVFC Academic Second Team (4.00 Kinesiology)
Appeared in every game as the long snapper … His skills helped kicker C.J. Elrichs lead the MVFC in field goals per game (1.2) and rank No. 3 in field goal percentage (73.7) … Helped NoDak go 14-for-19 kicking and 3-for-4 on field goals from 40+ yards out … Allowed UND to go 44-for-45 on extra point attempts … His snapping abilities helped the Fighting Hawks get off 39 punts for 1,554 yards and average 39.9 yards per boot … Helped UND have three punts of over 50 yards … Had a touchdown-saving tackle at Iowa State and a solo tackle in the 41-24 win over San Diego.
Jaden Norby, FB/TE, Sr., Ashby, Minn., MVFC Academic Second Team (3.771 Undergrad/4.0 Grad – Business Administration)
Received nine starts at fullback or tight end and played in every game … Hauled in four catches for 19 yards … His blocking helped UND rank No. 15 in the FCS in red-zone scoring (89.6 percent), No. 20 in third down conversion percentage (45.6) and No. 20 in time of possession (31:32) … Helped NoDak put up over 400 yards of offense three times, highlighted by 601 yards in the 72-35 win over Murray State … Had a 13-yard kick return at Youngstown State … Recorded a solo stop at Iowa State … Served as a team captain.
Carter Gorder, OL, So., Mason City, Iowa, MVFC Academic Honorable Mention (4.00 General Studies)
Saw action in all 12 games at center, usually playing half of the snaps at center in each contest … His blocking helped UND rank No. 15 in the FCS in red-zone scoring (89.6 percent), No. 20 in third down conversion percentage (45.6) and No. 20 in time of possession (31:32) … Helped NoDak pile up over 400 yards of offense three times, highlighted by 601 yards in the 72-35 win over Murray State.
Malachi McNeal, LB, Jr., Waukegan, Ill., MVFC Academic Honorable Mention (3.70 Communication)
Started 11 games at linebacker and appeared in every contest … Second on the team in total tackles (68.0) and quarterback hurries (7) … Ties for second on the team in tackles-for-loss (6.0) and third in both sacks (2.0) and pass breakups (3) … Put down a career-best 13 total tackles (eight solo) at Youngstown State … Served as a team captain.
Craig Orlando, DL, Sr., Verndale, Minn., MVFC Academic Honorable Mention (3.84 Kinesiology)
Started all 12 games at defensive tackle … Second on the team in sacks (2.5) and fourth in tackles-for-loss (4.0) … Tied for fourth on the team in QB hurries (4) … Had 28.0 total tackles … Put down a season-high two sacks in the 27-24 win over No. 4 Montana … Recorded a season-best four tackles and a blocked extra point at Indiana State.
Luke Silvernale, P, So., Grand Rapids, Mich., MVFC Academic Honorable Mention (3.851 Finance)
Appeared in 12 games as the punter … Recorded 37 punts for 1,475 yards … Averaged 39.9 yards per punt … Pinned teams inside their own 20 on 14 occasions … Had three punts of over 50 yards and a pair of touchbacks … Allowed just eight punt returns all season … Blasted a season-long 65-yard punt against No. 3 South Dakota State … Had a touchdown-saving tackle at No. 2 North Dakota State … Recorded 35 kickoffs for 2,140 yards … Averaged 61.1 yards per kickoff.
Mason South, FB/TE, So., Maple Grove, Minn., MVFC Academic Honorable Mention (4.0 Kinesiology)
Saw action in every game at fullback or tight end and had four starts … Had a 12-yard catch in the 52-28 win over Idaho State … His blocking helped UND rank No. 15 in the FCS in red-zone scoring (89.6 percent), No. 20 in third down conversion percentage (45.6) and No. 20 in time of possession (31:32) … Helped NoDak pile up over 400 yards of offense three times, highlighted by 601 yards in the 72-35 win over Murray State.