Greg Eslinger mamed to AP All-America team

Minnesota sophomore center Greg Eslinger has been named to the 2003 Associated Press All-America Team. Eslinger is a third-team selection at center behind first-team choice Jake Grove of Virginia Tech and second-team selection Ben Wilkerson of Louisiana State.

Greg Eslinger was also named to the 2003 Sports Illustrated.com All-America Team. He is a second-team selection on the offensive line and is the only sophomore on either the first- or second-team offensive line.

Eslinger is the first Gopher All-American since center Ben Hamilton and punter Preston Gruening were honored following the 2000 season. Eslinger becomes the fifth player to earn All-America status under head coach Glen Mason since his tenure began at Minnesota in 1997. These five players have earned seven All-America citations during that span.

Eslinger helped pave the way for the most prolific Gopher offense in school history. The Bismarck, N.D., native contributed to an offensive line, which set school records in 2003 for total offense (501.4 ypg), rushing offense (293.2 ypg), rushing touchdowns (42), scoring (39.3 ppg), touchdowns (62), yards per play (6.7), 500-yard games (7) and 200-yard rushing games (10).

Earlier this season, Eslinger became the first Minnesota center to earn first-team All-Big Ten honors since Ben Hamilton in 2000.