Complete CSC Academic All-America Team

TACOMA, Wash. — College Sports Communicators announced its Academic All-America Teams for the sport of football on Tuesday with Pacific Lutheran University defensive lineman Nico Golla securing Second Team honors.

Golla is one of 24 student-athletes from around NCAA Division III to be recognized as a Second Team selection and one of 50 gridiron student-athletes to earn Academic All-American accolades. The Puyallup, Washington native is the lone Northwest Conference player to be recognized and is one of just two student-athletes from the West Coast to make the cut, joining punter Cameron Shirangi from Pomona-Pitzer Colleges.

A First Team All-NWC selection and a Second Team All-Region honoree, Golla had 11.5 sacks this fall, the eighth most in a single season in PLU history while ranking 10th on the career sacks list with 22.5. In addition to his on field exploits, the business major sports a 3.79 grade point average.

Golla is the fourth Lute this year to earn CSC Academic All-America honors, joining Cole Dobson (men's soccer), Halle Hetzler (volleyball), and Ella Merte (women's soccer). Golla additionally is the first Lute football player to be recognized since Greg Hibbard was a First Team Academic All-American during the 2013-2014 academic year. 

PLU wrapped up the 2023 season with a 5-5 overall record and a 4-3 mark in conference play.