COLLEGEVILLE, Minn. – The Saint John's University football team has received a number of accolades in recent college football preseason publications. The Johnnies were ranked third in The Sporting News, sixth in Lindy’s and No. 13 in the USA Today Sports Weekly preseason Division III polls.
In addition, senior defensive lineman Nick Gunderson (Woodbury, Minn.) was named to The Sporting News Division III Preseason All-America team, while senior linebacker Ryan Wimmer (St. Cloud, Minn./Cathedral) was named to Lindy’s Preseason All-Division III second team.
A two-time All-American and a 2008 consensus preseason All-American, Gunderson suffered a season-ending knee injury in the season opener Sept. 6 against East Texas Baptist. In 2007, Gunderson led the Johnnies with 15 tackles for loss and 9.5 sacks, and finished fourth on the squad with 71 tackles (33 solo).
A two-time All-MIAC selection, Wimmer led the MIAC with 110 tackles (49 solo) in 2008 and became the first Johnnie to total 100 tackles or more in a season since Jamie Steffensmeier in 2003.
SJU opens the 2009 season Sept. 5 at Wisconsin-River Falls. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. at Ramer Field in River Falls, Wis. Legendary head coach John Gagliardi begins his record 61st season overall, 57th season at SJU, this fall. College football’s all-time wins leader, Gagliardi will coach his 600th career game Sept. 19 at Concordia-Moorhead.
MIAC Release