CSC Release

COLLEGEVILLE, Minn. – Three Saint John's University All-American seniors – defensive lineman Zach Frank (Lino Lakes, Minn./Centennial), tight end Joey Gendreau (Shorewood, Minn./Minnetonka) and wide receiver Dylan Wheeler (St. Paul, Minn./Mounds View) – were named to the College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-America first team on Tuesday, Jan. 27.

The Academic All-America honor is the second-consecutive for Frank and Wheeler.

SJU has now had 27 football Academic All-Americans over the last 22 seasons and 41 overall.

Frank (AFCA First Team, AP First Team, D3football.com Second Team), Gendreau (AFCA Second Team, AP Third Team, D3football.com Second Team) and Wheeler (AP Third Team, D3football.com Second Team) each earned All-America honors following the 2025 season. All three were also named to D3football.com's All-Region 6 first team and were All-MIAC.

Nominees must be of a sophomore academic standing or better, with a 3.50 GPA or higher. Athletically, the student-athlete must appear in 90 percent of his team's games or start in 66 percent of them. The Academic All-District and All-America teams are voted upon and selected by registered members of CSC (formerly the College Sports Information Directors of America).

Frank
A three-time (2023, 2024, 2025) All-MIAC selection and the 2025 MIAC Mike Stam Award recipient as the conference's best lineman, Frank finished eighth in Division III in sacks per game (1.08). He led the team in tackles for loss (17.0), sacks (13.0) and quarterback hurries (7) in 12 games. An accounting major with a 3.86 GPA, Frank was a semifinalist for the National Football Foundation's (NFF) Campbell Trophy and finished fourth on the team with 46 tackles. 
 
Frank ended his career fifth in program history in sacks (28.5) and ninth in tackles for loss (40.0). The Johnnies ended the season fifth in NCAA Division III in scoring defense (12.1 ppg.); seventh in total defense (241.1 ypg.); 10th in red-zone defense (61.5 percent, 16-for-26); and 13th in defensive touchdowns (4).

Gendreau
Gendreau finished second on the team with 76 catches for 1,020 yards and nine touchdowns in 12 games this fall. He recorded four 100-yard receiving games, fell three yards short of another and was named to D3football.com's National Team of the Week three times this fall. An exercise and health science and global business leadership double-major with a 3.60 GPA, Gendreau ended his career as SJU's all-time leader in receiving yards (2,196), among tight ends, and second in both receptions (168) and receiving touchdowns (20) at the position.

The Johnnies' offense ended the season as the Division III leader on third down (58.7 percent, 74-for-126) and fewest tackles for loss allowed per game (2.25), as well as second in both passing offense (364.8 ypg.) and scoring offense (47.3 ppg.); third in both completion percentage (.718) and total offense (506.8 ypg.); seventh in passing efficiency (177.46); eighth in first downs (311); ninth in fewest sacks allowed per game (0.58); and 17th in red-zone offense (88.9 percent, 64-for-72).

Wheeler
An accounting major with a 3.64 GPA, Wheeler ended the 2025 season fourth in Division III in receiving touchdowns (19), 11th in both receiving yards (1,175) and receptions per game (8.17); 13th in total touchdowns (19); and 16th in total points scored (114).

A consensus All-American in 2024, Wheeler was a two-time D3football.com All-Region and All-MIAC selection who led the Johnnies in all three receiving categories: receptions (98), yards (1,175) and touchdowns (19). He totaled 22 catches for 237 yards and five touchdowns in two NCAA playoff games.

Wheeler started each of SJU's last 34 games (and played all 46 during his time as a Johnnie). He owns three conference or program receiving records starting with: MIAC (conference games only) games of multiple receiving touchdowns (six in 2024) and is tied with Blake Elliott '03 with 12 100-yard receiving games in conference play. Wheeler also holds the SJU record for games of three receiving touchdowns or more (8). 

He ended his career second in program history in receptions (247), receiving yards (3,182), receiving touchdowns (50) and 100-yard receiving games (15).

Wheeler was honored Jan. 1 at the Sugar Bowl in New Orleans as a member of the 22-man Allstate American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Good Works team, the ninth Johnnie to achieve the honor and the eighth in the past nine seasons.

SJU (10-2, 8-1 MIAC) recorded its 27th 10-win season, made its 34th postseason appearance (30th in Division III) this fall and ended the season ranked as high as No. 8 in the final AFCA poll.