Cat Central

Tanner Bleskin Named Academic All American

Posted: Dec 6, 2012 8:43 PM by Ted Dawson

Tanner Bleskin's work on the football field has been crucial to Montana State's run of three straight Big Sky Conference Championships. His work in the classroom has been even more impressive.

On Thursday, Bleskin was honored for both. The Bobcat junior receiver from Great Falls earned Capital One CoSIDA Academic All-America Second Team honors, the first Bobcat to so honored since Travis Lulay in 2005.

"This is a fabulous honor for Tanner," says MSU coach Rob Ash, "because he works so hard at both football and school. He takes great pride in being a complete football player and a complete student-athlete, and this award recognizes that."

Bleskin has led the Bobcats in receiving throughout the season, catching 62 passes for 852 yards. He has four touchdown catches, and led the Big Sky in receiving until mid-season injuries hampered him for a number of games. Still, his impact has been undeniable. The CM Russell HS graduate posted back-to-back 10-catch games against Stephen F. Austin and Northern Colorado in September, and caught four balls for 130 yards against Stony Brook in MSU's FCS Playoff second round win a week ago.

While logging an outstanding junior season, Bleskin continues to climb the Bobcat records lists. His 852 passing yards this season is 35 from 10th place in school history, his 112 catches is seven from MSU's career top 10, and his 10 career touchdown catches is already tied for ninth in school history.

Bleskin and the Bobcats host Sam Houston State on Friday at 6 pm in a game televised nationally on ESPN2.