The National Strength and Conditioning Association has named Jesse Trent of Fort Hays State football as one of its 2015 All-American Athlete Award recipients, recognized for his outstanding accomplishments as a student-athlete. Trent was an All-MIAA selection at defensive line for the second consecutive season in 2015. He was a CoSIDA Academic All-America First Team selection, but earned second team honors in the previous two years. Trent became the first-ever three-time CoSIDA Academic All-America selection at Fort Hays State. He is a Biology major at FHSU. He is a two-time recipient of the MIAA Scholar-Athlete Award, for student-athletes who attain All-MIAA honors and hold a GPA of at least 3.5.Anchoring the defensive line at defensive tackle, Trent tied for the lead in tackles among FHSU defensive linemen with 40 in 2014. He also added 1.5 sacks, 5.0 tackles for loss, and one fumble recovery.
Trent helped the Tigers to a record of 7-4 in 2014, the first seven-win season for FHSU since the 1996 season. FHSU finished in a tie for fourth in the MIAA standings, its highest-ever finish since joining the conference in 2006.
Nominated by FHSU Strength and Conditioning Coach, Doug Boucher, Trent’s determination to improve in athletics while maintaining academic prominence is a great model for all student-athletes at Fort Hays State University.