MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. -- The Minnesota Chapter of the National Football Foundation (NFF) announced Monday morning that Minnesota State Moorhead quarterback Jack Strand has been named the Stein-Fallon College Scholar-Athlete for 2025-26. The award, which highlights outstanding academic, athletic and community service accomplishments, is presented annually to a student-athlete from a Minnesota college or university. 

Strand is set to be honored on April 19 during a private awards event at Huntington Bank Stadium on the University of Minnesota campus. The April event will be recorded and featured on the Minnesota Football Honors show, airing later this summer on YouTube and social media, with full details coming soon. Strand is the fifth NSIC student-athlete to earn the award and the first in Minnesota State Moorhead's history. 

"We are excited to honor Jack Strand for his outstanding accomplishments on the field, in the classroom and throughout his local community," said Todd Fultz, President of the Minnesota Chapter of the National Football Foundation. "Strand was not only one of the best players in Division II football, but he became one of the nation's top academic performers. He is exemplary in every area of his life and represents our football community in a first-class way. We are looking forward to honoring him during this summer's Minnesota Football Honors broadcast."

Jack Strand was one of the top players in Division II football. Strand finished his career with 1,247 completions (63.8% completion percentage), 1,953 attempts, 13,161 passing yards and 126 passing touchdowns. He also added 55 rushing yards and nine touchdowns. This year, Strand led the NSIC in passing (3,546) and total yardage (3,834) throughout the season. Strand also accounted for 47 total touchdowns and set the Minnesota State Moorhead single-season record with 42 passing touchdowns. 

Strand was named AFCA All-America Second Team (2025), D2CCA All-America First Team (2025), Don Hansen All-America Second Team (2025) and D2Football.com Elite 100/All-America First Team (2025). He also earned D2CCA Super Region 3 Offensive Player of the Year (2025), NSIC Offensive Player of the Year (2023, 2025) and All-NSIC (2023-25) honors. Strand is now Minnesota State Moorhead's career leader in passing completions (1,247), passing yards (13,161), passing touchdowns (126) and total offense (13,216).

The Bloomer, Wisconsin, native majored in engineering physics and was recognized as a finalist for the William V. Campbell Trophy and as a National Football Foundation Scholar-Athlete for his outstanding academic achievements. Off the field, Strand was actively involved in campus ministry and regularly attended Thursday night Bible studies. 

To view a statewide map of past and present Minnesota Football Honors Award Winners, visit this site. 

Previous Stein-Fallon Award Winners include: 

• 2010: Eric Decker: University of Minnesota 
• 2011: Isaac Odim: University of Minnesota-Duluth
• 2012: Brad Kruckeberg: Gustavus Adolphus 
• 2013: John Rabe: University of Minnesota
• 2014: JD Mehlhorn: Bethel University 
• 2015: Tom Obarski: Concordia University-St. Paul
• 2016: Jon Christenson: University of Minnesota 
• 2017: Carter Hanson: St. John's University 
• 2018: David Franta: St. John's University 
• 2019: Will Gallach: St. John's University
• 2020: Alex Goettl: Minnesota State-Mankato
• 2021: JD Ekowa: Minnesota State-Mankato
• 2022: Blaise Andries: University of Minnesota 
• 2023: John Michael Schmitz (University of Minnesota) and Michael Wozniak (St. John's University) 
• 2024: Johnson Fallah: St. Thomas 
• 2025: Danny Striggow: University of Minnesota 

About the Minnesota Chapter of the National Football Foundation:

The Minnesota Chapter of The National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame is a local non-profit organization whose mission is to promote amateur football's ability to develop leadership, sportsmanship, competitive spirit and academic excellence in Minnesota's young people. The Minnesota Chapter recognizes legendary football icons, college football Hall of Famers and Minnesota's top high school and college football scholar-athletes. For more information, visit www.nffmn.org, or Facebook (@MNFootballHonors) and Twitter (@NFFMN).