COLORADO SPRINGS - Colorado School of Mines led the way in the annual National Football Foundation Colorado Chapter all-academic teams announced on March 31. 

The Orediggers' 36 first-team and 57 overall selections were the most from among the Centennial State's 10 football programs across all NCAA divisions. First-Team Academic All-Colorado recipients hold cumulative GPAs of 3.3 or above, with Honorable Mention Academic All-Colorado picks having GPAs from 3.0 to 3.29. 

In addition, wide receiver Tristan Smith was one of seven finalists for the NFFCC Scholar-Athlete of the Year. The redshirt junior petroleum engineering major with a 3.89 GPA was named CoSIDA Second-Team Academic All-America this season after leading Mines in receptions (63) and yards (827) in 14 starts. Smith, a Highlands Ranch native, caught seven touchdowns and averaged 13.13 yards per catch, compiling three 100+ yard receiving games including 117 on 10 catches against Black Hills State and 116 yards at CSU Pueblo. 

The First-Team Academic All-Colorado selections for Mines are: Ben Fuchs, Zach Heckman, Mason Karp, Zach Hoffman, Tristan Smith, Sam Zadel, Nolan Reeve, Kenny Wright, Brock Ewing, Joel Diaz, Jack Peterson, Evan Alexander, Collin Romero, Roberto Valenzuela, John Matocha, Steve Street, Joe Golter, Sean Roberts, Blake Doud, Kade Johnson, Mack Minnehan, Hayden Gregg, Jalen Thomas, Josh Pollard, Sean McNair, Ethan Kremer, Cole Johnson, Michael Zeman, Robert Miller, Jacob Lutey, Evan Foster, Chaffin Ross, Chris Yoo, Jake Sype, Levi Johnson, and Josh Krause.

Orediggers named Honorable Mention Academic All-Colorado are: Joey Beckner, Caleb Frink, Blake Ray, Maxwell Nwokeukwu, Christian Benedetto, Denver Hargrove, Max McLeod, Jack Walters, Tyler Larson, Christian Mueller, Logan Lindeman, Beau Collins, Flynn Schiele, Max Fecci, Sid Thadani, Adrian Moreno, Peyton Rose, James Hess, Justin Wood, Jack Lowery, and Matt Armendariz.