ST. PAUL, Minn. -- The Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) football season finished with Saint John's University alone atop the standings as the MIAC champion. Tuesday, one of the players who contributed to the title was honored for his joint athletic and academic achievements as sophomore Carter Hanson was named the winner of the 2014 MIAC Football Elite 22 Award.

The MIAC Elite 22 Award recognizes the true essence of the student-athlete by honoring the individual who has reached the pinnacle of competition at the conference championship level in his or her sport, while also achieving the highest academic standard among his or her peers. Modeled after the NCAA Elite 89 Award, the MIAC Elite 22 Award is presented to the student-athlete with the highest grade point average (GPA) in each sport who meet similarly high, sport-specific athletic requirements. 

The MIAC Elite 22 Football Award is presented to the individual with the highest GPA who helped his team finish first or second in the final conference standings, including ties. The winner must be a sophomore, junior or senior and in at least his or her second season of competition with their current team.

In 2014, there were four teams eligible for the honor - MIAC champion Saint John's (10-1, 7-1 MIAC) and co-runners-up Bethel (7-3, 6-2 MIAC), Concordia (8-2, 6-2 MIAC) and St. Thomas (8-3, 6-2 MIAC). Among those four teams, Hanson emerged with the highest GPA, as the Saint John's linebacker claimed the award with a perfect 4.0 GPA. Hanson is a sophomore from Blue Earth, Minn., and a graduate of Blue Earth Area High School. He is majoring in Global Business Leadership.

Hanson has not only excelled in the classroom - he has been an integral part of the Johnnies' defensive success as they captured their first MIAC title since 2009 and 32nd overall. Hanson has racked up 88 total tackles, 50 solo tackles and 38 assists, and he leads the team in all three categories. He also has two sacks, six tackles-for-a-loss, two forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries and four pass breakups. He ranks third in the MIAC in total tackles and solo tackles and first in fumble recoveries. His average of 8.0 tackles per game ranks sixth in the MIAC.

Saint John's season is still going, as the Johnnies opened the NCAA Division III Football Playoffs with a 35-7 first-round win over St. Scholastica Saturday in Collegeville, Minn. The No. 13-ranked Johnnies will continue their postseason quest Saturday with a trip to Waverly, Iowa, to face No. 4/5-ranked Wartburg (11-0) in a second-round game at noon.

A plaque will be provided to Hanson to commemorate his MIAC Elite 22 Award, and he is recognized on the MIAC Elite 22 Award web site, which will archive each of the 22 winners throughout the 2014-15 season. Hanson is Saint John's second Elite 22 winner this fall, as fellow Johnnie Dylan Lehrer claimed the honor in men's soccer.

| MIAC Elite 22 Award | 2014-15 MIAC Elite 22 Award Archive |