AUSTIN, Texas - College Sports Communicators (CSC) released its 2023 Academic All-America Football Teams on Tuesday and Gustavus senior wide receiver Jake Breitbach was selected to the Division III First Team. Academic All-America Teams recognize the nation's top student-athletes for their combined performances athletically and in the classroom.

Breitbach adds another accolade to the most decorated season by an individual in Gustavus football history. Breitbach, a computer science and economics double major with a 3.78 GPA, was recently named a top-five finalist for the Gagliardi Trophy (Division III version of the Heisman Trophy), honoring the most outstanding football player in Division III. Breitbach was also selected as an All-American by the Associated Press (Second Team), D3football.com (Third Team), and the AFCA (Second Team), becoming just the second Gustie to receive All-America honors from three separate organizations in the same season.  

 

The Golden Valley native was named the MIAC Offensive Player of the Year, along with his third All-Conference selection, and led the Gustavus offense this past season as the team's leading receiver with record numbers. He finished the regular season with 1,599 receiving yards, 110 receptions, and 13 receiving touchdowns. Breitbach posted four games with 200 yards or more and eight with more than 100 yards, and finished the season second in all NCAA Divisions (FBS, FCS, DII, DIII) for receiving yards per game (159.9), receptions per game (11.0), and total receiving yards (1,599). Breitbach's 11.0 receptions per game tied for 12th in the all-time NCAA Division III single season record book, his 110 receptions tied for 15th, and his 1,599 receiving yards are 22nd. In the ninth game of the season, Breitbach broke two program records, passing a 16-year old record for single season receptions with 104, and an eight-year old record for single season receiving yards (1,518). Breitbach also shares the program record for receiving touchdowns in a single game (4) which he collected in the first game of the season. He earned conference athlete of the week honors twice this season and national team of the week honors once. 

Breitbach extends his excellence beyond the football field, as he is an exemplary student-athlete in the classroom. Along with his Academic All-America honor, Breitbach has been named to the MIAC Academic All-Conference team the last two seasons and is eligible for the honor once more this season. Breitbach is also connected to the community in a variety of ways. The senior serves as a team captain for the football program, embodying the team's core values of growth, effort, and trust. Breitbach serves as a mentor to one of the team's freshmen players, guiding the individual through their first year of collegiate athletics on and off the field. Breitbach mentors local elementary students in Saint Peter as a part of the "Read and Recess" program at South Elementary. Breitbach reads to elementary students and spends time with them throughout and after the football season. Finally, Breitbach serves as a peer tutor in the economics department, helping educate fellow students in the subject area.

Breitbach is the first Gustie football student-athlete to earn CSC Academic All-America since Brice Panning in 2018 and is the 18th in program history. He is also the second Gustie to earn Academic All-America this academic year and 134th in school history, marking the most in the MIAC and 13th most in Division III. To be eligible for Academic All-America consideration, a student-athlete must be a varsity starter or key reserve, maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.50 on a scale of 4.00, played in at least 90 percent of the team's competition throughout the season, reached sophomore athletic and academic standings at his/her current institution, and be nominated by his/her sports information director.