Completed Event: Football at Montana on December 6, 2025 , Loss , 29, to, 50
/
FINAL
Football
29
at Montana
50
South Dakota State University Athletics
CLAYBORNE, PELHAM NAMED ACADEMIC ALL-AMERICANS
1/27/2026 11:05:00 AM | Football
South Dakota State student-athletes Kobe Clayborne and Max Pelham were honored Tuesday as members of the 2025 College Sports Communicators Academic All-America Division I Football Team.
A graduate student from Sioux City, Iowa, Clayborne was selected to the first team after compiling a perfect 4.0 grade-point average as both an undergraduate and graduate student while majoring in finance and business economics. He received Academic All-America recognition for the second time in his collegiate career, after previously being named to the Division II Second Team in 2023 while playing at Northwest Missouri State.
On the field, Clayborne saw action at both defensive end and defensive tackle during his two seasons at SDSU. He finished the 2025 season with 41 total tackles, including eight tackles for loss and four sacks, en route to All-America selections by the American Football Coaches Association (second team), Stats Perform (third team) and Associated Press (honorable mention). Clayborne also was honored as the 2025 Missouri Valley Football Conference Scholar-Athlete of the Year.
Pelham, a senior from Ankeny Iowa, was named to the second team after posting a 3.64 GPA as a civil engineering major. He averaged an MVFC-best 47.2 yards per punt during the 2025 season, with 18 of his 42 attempts traveling 50 or more yards. In addition, Pelham was a first-team All-America pick by the AFCA and an honorable mention selection by The Associated Press.
Miami (Fla.) led the 50-player squad with four selections — two on both the first and second teams — while SDSU, Montana, Montana State and New Mexico each had two honorees.
With the selections of Clayborne and Pelham, South Dakota State has had at least one student-athlete honored on the Academic All-America® Team in 19 of the last 21 seasons and a total of 50 selections since 1974. The Division I squad is made up of student-athletes who compete in both the Football Bowl and Football Championship subdivisions.
The Academic All-America® program, sponsored by the College Sports Communicators (formerly CoSIDA), recognizes the nation's top student-athletes for their combined performances on the field and in the classroom. Candidates are first nominated and honored at the district level, with a select group advancing to the national ballot. In addition, candidates must be at least a sophomore in athletic and academic standing, a starter or key reserve on his team and carry at least a 3.5 GPA.
A graduate student from Sioux City, Iowa, Clayborne was selected to the first team after compiling a perfect 4.0 grade-point average as both an undergraduate and graduate student while majoring in finance and business economics. He received Academic All-America recognition for the second time in his collegiate career, after previously being named to the Division II Second Team in 2023 while playing at Northwest Missouri State.
On the field, Clayborne saw action at both defensive end and defensive tackle during his two seasons at SDSU. He finished the 2025 season with 41 total tackles, including eight tackles for loss and four sacks, en route to All-America selections by the American Football Coaches Association (second team), Stats Perform (third team) and Associated Press (honorable mention). Clayborne also was honored as the 2025 Missouri Valley Football Conference Scholar-Athlete of the Year.
Pelham, a senior from Ankeny Iowa, was named to the second team after posting a 3.64 GPA as a civil engineering major. He averaged an MVFC-best 47.2 yards per punt during the 2025 season, with 18 of his 42 attempts traveling 50 or more yards. In addition, Pelham was a first-team All-America pick by the AFCA and an honorable mention selection by The Associated Press.
Miami (Fla.) led the 50-player squad with four selections — two on both the first and second teams — while SDSU, Montana, Montana State and New Mexico each had two honorees.
With the selections of Clayborne and Pelham, South Dakota State has had at least one student-athlete honored on the Academic All-America® Team in 19 of the last 21 seasons and a total of 50 selections since 1974. The Division I squad is made up of student-athletes who compete in both the Football Bowl and Football Championship subdivisions.
The Academic All-America® program, sponsored by the College Sports Communicators (formerly CoSIDA), recognizes the nation's top student-athletes for their combined performances on the field and in the classroom. Candidates are first nominated and honored at the district level, with a select group advancing to the national ballot. In addition, candidates must be at least a sophomore in athletic and academic standing, a starter or key reserve on his team and carry at least a 3.5 GPA.
-GoJacks.com-
Players Mentioned
DT
/ Football
P
/ FootballDan Jackson Postgame Comments at Montana (12.06.2025)
Saturday, December 06
Football Highlights at Montana (12.06.2025)
Saturday, December 06
Gameday Eve - Montana (12.05.2025)
Thursday, December 04
Dan Jackson Weekly Press Conference (12.02.2025)
Tuesday, December 02