For the second time in as many years, University of Minnesota Duluth  wide receiver Jason Balts has been selected the NSIC Elite 18 Award winner for football
 
Balts, a native of Barron, Wis., who maintains a 3.98 cumulative grade point average as a physical education major, had his senior year cut short by a season-ending injury he incurred one month in.
In four games this fall, the 2017 All-NSIC North Division first team honoree caught 14 passes for 264 yards and four touchdowns. He also returned three kickoffs for 79 yards. Balts, a two-time team captain, currently ranks ninth on UMD's all-time pass reception charts with 126 catches. His 2,269 receiving yards are the fifth most ever rolled up a Bulldog.

Besides Balts, UMD has produced five other Elite 18 award winners since the start of the 2017-18 season -- Kendall Hill (2018 men's outdoor track and field and 2018 men's cross country), Makenzie Morgen (2018 and 2017 volleyball), Grant Pulver (2017 men's cross country) Michaela Hesse (2018 women's indoor track and field) and Valerie Hohol (2018 softball).
 
As part of the NSIC 25th Anniversary celebration, the NSIC Elite 18 Award was instituted to recognize the true essence of the student-athlete by honoring the individual who has reached the pinnacle of competition at the NSIC Championship level in his or her sport, while also achieving the highest academic standard among his or her peers. The NSIC Elite 18 award for football is presented to the student-athlete with the highest cumulative grade-point average participating on a NSIC North or South Division championship team.