NC State Places Seven On Academic All-ACC Team

RALEIGH, N.C. – Seven members of the NC State football team have been named to the All-ACC Academic Team for their performances in the classroom this past season.

A pair of specialists find their way onto the All-ACC Academic Team, as punter Trenton Gill (Biological Sciences) and long snapper Joe Shimko (Sport Management) were both honored for the first time in their careers.

Gill ranked third in the ACC in punting average this season, 14th in the FBS. Shimko has handled every snap on both field goals and punts for the past three seasons, and did not have a bad snap in 2020.

A trio of starters from the Wolfpack's offensive line earned the honor as well. Both OT Ikem Ekwonu (Business Administration) and OG Joe Sculthorpe (Leadership & Volunteer Management) were named for the second straight season, while center Grant Gibson (Business Administration) was a first-time selection.

Ekwonu was a two-time ACC Player of the Week selection and named all-conference third-team while starting games at both LG and LT. Sculthorpe, also named third-team All-ACC, started at both guard spots. Gibson played every offensive snap of the season at center before suffering an injury late in the Gator Bowl.

The final two members named are the Thomas brothers, WR Thayer (Post Baccalaureate) and LB Drake (Business Administration).

Thayer was an All-ACC third-team selection as a specialist, and led the Pack in receiving TDs and finished second in catches. Drake started in every game he played and finished fifth on the team in tackles.

In Dave Doeren's eight seasons as a head coach, his players have won All-ACC Academic honors 38 times.