Iowa football players James Vandenberg, Steve Bigach, and James Morris have been named to the Academic All-District Six first team, announced the College Sports Information Directors of America on Thursday.

Each of the honorees will now be represented on the national ballot to have a chance to earn Academic All-America status.

Vandenberg currently holds a 3.36 GPA after earning a degree in health and human physiology. The senior was honored in 2011 with district all-academic honors, and he has earned Academic All-Big Ten honors the past three years.

Bigach holds a 3.68 GPA while studying environmental science. The senior also earned academic-all district honors last season and earned Academic All-Big Ten honors in 2010-11.

Morris holds a 3.8 GPA while majoring in political science. This is the junior’s first academic all-district title, but the linebacker also earned Academic All-Big Ten recognition in 2011.

Head coach Kirk Ferentz has had 20 different athletes combine to earn 38 all-district and All-American academic honors during his 14-year tenure.