Dec. 1, 2006

Elmhurst, Ill. - North Dakota State University strong safety Craig Dahl and South Dakota State running back Cory Koenig were named to ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America® University Division first team by vote of the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA). South Dakota State kicker Parker Douglass was named to the second team.

Dahl, a 6-foot-1, 213-pound senior from Mankato, Minn. (East H.S.), maintains a 3.58 grade point average in mechanical engineering. Craig is the son of Terry and Laurie Dahl, Madison Lake, Minn. Dahl, who was third on the team with 62 tackles including 32 solo stops, 3.5 tackles for loss, a sack, one forced fumble and a fumble recovery, became NDSU's all-time leader with 134 solo tackles during the season. He is the second football player to earn first team academic all-america honors, joining split end T.R. McDonald (1993).

Koenig was a first-team selection to the University Division squad at running back. A native of Underwood, Iowa, Koenig has compiled a 3.77 grade-point average while majoring in biology. He finished second on the team in rushing during the 2006 season with 545 yards and scored two touchdowns.

Douglass, from Columbus, Neb., was a second-team selection at kicker with a perfect 4.00 GPA while also majoring in biology. The Great West Special Teams Player of the Year for the second consecutive year, Douglass holds 14 school records, including most career field goals (46) and points by a kicker (231).

Dahl was also one of 37 I-AA players selected as a National Football Foundation and College Football Hall of Fame 2006 Draddy Trophy semifinalist. He is a two-time academic all-district and academic all-conference selection.