Greg Aker, who closed the books on a rewarding University of Minnesota Duluth athletic career this past fall, will be taking his pass-catching act overseas this summer as part of Team USA which will compete in the 2007 World Championship of American Football. The six-country tournament is set for July 7-15 in Kawasaki, Japan and will mark the first-ever appearance by a United States team.

Aker, a 5-11, 195-pound wide receiver from Superior, Wis., is one of 45 players who were selected from a pool of 2006 college seniors representing all NCAA and NAIA levels. He'll be joined in Japan by eight other NCAA Division II players, including a pair of North Central Conference products -- running back Kyle Kasperbauer from the University of Nebraska-Omaha and defensive back Jason Hoffschneider from the University of North Dakota.

In 2006, Aker received All-NCC acclaim for the second time in as many years (first team in 2006 and second team in 2005) and was one of 24 finalists for the Harlon Hill Award as the most outstanding player in NCAA II football. He tied for the NCC lead in regular season receptions (68, the second highest single-season total in team history) and caught more passes in league play (59) than any other league player. The three-year starting wide receiver was credited with 135 catches over the past two years, the most receptions ever accumulated by a Bulldog in back-to-back seasons. Aker, who was a member of both the Daktronics and the d2.football.com Division II All-Northwest second teams last season, finished his playing days with 179 catches for 2,211 yards -- good for third place on UMD's all-time charts in both departments. As a junior, Aker topped the NCC in touchdowns (12 against league competition) and scoring (12.0 points per game) and went on snare at least one pass in each of his final collegiate 33 outings. Aker, a three-time all-conference performer on the baseball diamond with the Bulldogs as well, was bestowed with UMD's Outstanding Senior Male Athlete Award for 2006-07last month.

Team USA, which is being coached by John Mackovic, will train at San Jose State University from June 20 to July 4 before departing for Japan. At the 2007 World Championship of American Football, Team USA will square off with Germany and Korea in pool play while the other pool is comprised of two-time defending champion Japan, Sweden and France.