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University of Minnesota Athletics
MINNESOTA PUNTER PRESTON GRUENING SELECTED PLAYBOY PRESEASON ALL-AMERICA
5/11/2001 12:00:00 AM | Football
preseaFor the third-straight year, a University of Minnesota football athlete has been invited to be represented on Playboy's Preseason All-America Football Team, the most prestigious of the numerous preseason all-star squads. Golden Gopher junior punter Preston Gruening has been invited by Playboy to be a member of its to the 2001 Preseason College All- America Football Team. This weekend, he is attending the Dream Team photo session in Phoenix, Ariz.
Named an All-American in 2000 by the Football News, Gruening led the nation in punting average from start to finish of the regular season with a 45.2 average. A Ray Guy Award finalist last season, he enters the season as the top returning punter in the nation.
Gruening becomes the third Golden Gopher player in the past three years to be invited to the Preseason All-America Team and the second player to accept the invitation. In 1999, strong safety Tyrone Carter represented Minnesota on the notable team. Last year, center Ben Hamilton declined his invitation to the team for personal reasons.
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