MINNEAPOLIS, MN - April 6, 2017 - The University of Minnesota Duluth’s All-American lineman, Peter Bateman, will add another accolade as the Minnesota Chapter of the National Football Foundation has named him the 2017 recipient of the Bobby Bell College Impact Player of the Year Award. Bateman will be recognized at the 10 Year Anniversary of the Minnesota Football Honors on May 7.
Bateman, a senior offensive tackle, received first-team Associated Press, Don Hansen and D2Football.com All-America Honors. He was also named to the American Football Coaches Association’s All-America Second Team and was a finalist for the 2016 Gene Upshaw NCAA Division II Lineman of the Year Award.
Before missing UMD’s playoff opener with an injury, Bateman had started all 50 games of his career. The La Crescent, Minn., native is the Bulldogs’ first lineman to earn All-Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference honors all four years, including three years on the first team. Bateman ALSO achieved NSIC All-Academic status three times.
Bateman was rated the No. 1 offensive tackle in Division by HERO Sports entering the season. He allowed only one quarterback sack during his career. Bateman protected for an offense that ranked second nationally in total offense and sixth in scoring offense in 2016. His Bulldogs finished the season ranked 14th in the AFCA poll.
The 10 Year Anniversary of the Minnesota Football Honors will be held Sunday, May 7, 2017 at U.S. Bank Stadium. College and professional football Hall of Fame inductees are scheduled to attend to celebrate the best of Minnesota football. The largest football awards event in the state is presented by the Minnesota Vikings. The event is open to the public. To register or find additional information about this year’s Minnesota Football Honors, please visit www.minnesotafootballhonors.com. For sponsorship information, please email lindsay@nffmn.org.
##
About the Minnesota Chapter of the National Football Foundation:
The Minnesota Chapter of The National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame is a local non-profit organization whose mission is to promote and develop the power of amateur football in developing the qualities of leadership, sportsmanship, competitive spirit and academic excellence in Minnesota’s young people. The MN Chapter recognizes legendary football icons, college football Hall of Famers and Minnesota’s top high school and college football scholar athletes. For more information, visit www.nffmn.org, Facebook or Twitter.
Contact:
Lindsay Lommel, Event Manager
MN Chapter of The National Football Foundation
lindsay@nffmn.org