Apr. 3—MINNEAPOLIS — In a couple months, Blake Schiltz will leave Pine Island for Fargo, N.D.
The standout linebacker is heavily in the plans of the football coaches at Division I-FCS power — and defending national champion — North Dakota State University.
Before Schiltz goes north, though, he'll collect one more football honor.
On April 13, Schiltz is one of just eight high school players from Minnesota who will be honored by the National Football Foundation as a scholar-athlete award winner.
"We are so proud of the outstanding achievements of our Scholar-Athlete award winners and Honorable Mention selections," said Todd Fultz, President of the Minnesota Chapter of the National Football Foundation. "Our state is filled with young people who are committed to making a difference on the field, in the classroom and community. It brings me great joy when we read about each athlete's accomplishments on their nomination paperwork. We can't wait to recognize and honor these achievements during this summer's Minnesota Football Honors broadcast."
Schiltz totaled 79 tackles last fall for Section 1, Class 3A runner-up Pine Island. That included 12 tackles for loss and 2 sacks. He also recorded a safety, forced two fumbles and had an interception. Schiltz was the leader of a team that allowed 11.6 points per game during the regular season. He play in the Minnesota Coaches Association All-Star Game and was an Academic All-State Team choice.
In addition to the eight scholar-athlete award winners, the NFF has named 27 scholar-athlete Honorable Mention selections.
Schiltz and the other seven scholar-athlete award winners will be honored on April 13 during a private awards event at the Minnesota Vikings' TCO Performance Center. The event will be taped and broadcast during the Minnesota Football Honors television show, which is slated to air this summer.
The eight Minnesota players to be honored are Schiltz, Chase Young (St. Thomas Academy), Kenneth Adah (Bloomington Kennedy), Wyatt Birr (Maple River), Jonah Sadowski (Highland Park), Andrew Marty (Chokio/Alberta), Brock Holthaus (Monticello) and Mason Boesl (Parkers Prairie).
Among the honoroble mention selections are Minnesota's 2024 Mr. Football, LeRoy-Ostrander/Lyle-Pacelli quarterback Camden Hungerholt; Fillmore Central receiver Greg Kennedy; and Byron linebacker Jacob Von Arx.
