Kaplan Honored As NCAA FCS Football Elite-Scholar Athlete

NASHVILLE – Illinois State senior linebacker Mason Kaplan was honored Saturday with one of the most prestigious academic honors bestowed by the NCAA, as he earned the NCAA FCS Football Elite Scholar-Athlete Award during media day festivities at FirstBank Stadium.

The NCAA Elite Scholar-Athlete award honors the exceptional achievements of student-athletes. This prestigious accolade is given to those who have not only excelled at a national championship level in their sport but have also achieved the highest academic standards among their peers. The Elite Scholar-Athlete is proudly awarded to the student-athlete with the highest cumulative GPA at the finals site for each of the NCAA's championships.

Kaplan, a 2025 MVFC All-Academic First-Team honoree, has started all 16 games at linebacker for the Redbirds during their run to the FCS National Championship game. The Peachtree Corners, Georgia, native holds a 4.0 cumulative GPA in graduate school while studying psychology of sport and physical activity. He ranks third on the team with 76 total tackles, including 30 solo stops, and was credited with four pass breakups, three quarterback hurries, a sack and 5.5 tackles-for-loss on the season. Kaplan posted a career-high 11 tackles against Youngstown State and had eight games with five or more tackles. 

In addition to his work on the field and in the classroom, Kaplan also currently serves as the President of the ISU Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. In that role, he helps promote communication between athletics administration and student-athletes and provides feedback and insight into athletics department issues on behalf the student-athletes. He also helps build a sense of community within the athletics program involving all athletics teams.

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