Cole Wisniewski finalist for Doris Robinson Scholar-Athlete Award

North Dakota State safety Cole Wisniewski on Wednesday, Nov. 22, was named as one of 15 finalists for the FedEx Ground Doris Robinson Scholar-Athlete Award, which includes one player from each conference in the Football Championship Subdivision.

The ninth annual award, named after the late school teacher and wife of legendary Grambling State coach Eddie Robinson, is presented to an FCS student-athlete who excels on the playing field, in the classroom and across the community.

Wisniewski, a senior from Sparta, Wisconsin, has a 4.00 cumulative GPA and is double majoring in business administration and marketing with a minor in professional selling. He is a two-time NCAA Elite 90 award winner, recognizing the highest GPA at the NCAA national championship game.

This is Wisniewski's first year starting at safety after playing three years at linebacker for the Bison. A two-time Defensive Player of the Week in the Missouri Valley Football Conference, he leads the MVFC with five interceptions and also has a team-high five pass breakups. He has the two longest interception returns in the MVFC this year, a 75-yard touchdown at Northern Iowa and a 64-yard return at Missouri State.

Wisniewski is NDSU's second-leading tackler with 63 total tackles. He made a career-high 11 tackles in the season-opening win over Eastern Washington, and averaged 10 tackles over the final three weeks of the regular season with 11 stops at South Dakota State, nine against Southern Illinois and 10 at Northern Iowa.

North Dakota State (8-3) is scheduled to host Pioneer Football League champion Drake (8-3) in the first round of the NCAA Division I Football Championship at 2:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 25, at Gate City Bank Field at the Fargodome. Tickets are on sale at GoBison.com/tickets.