National Football Foundation

Regarded as one of the nation's top centers, Minnesota's Greg Eslinger has seen his performance escalate to All-America status both on the field and in the classroom.

A two-time Academic All-Conference selection, Eslinger was named to the 2004 ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America Second Team. A three-time Minnesota Scholar-Athlete Award recipient, he has twice earned ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District honors and received the 2004 Butch Nash Award, given yearly to an individual that exhibits competitiveness on the field and in the classroom. 

A two-year team captain, Eslinger was named 2004 First Team All-America by the Football Writers Association of America. In 2003, he earned Second Team All-America honors from SI.com and was an All-America Freshman Second Team pick by The Sporting News in 2002. A two-time First Team All-Conference pick, he was a Rimington Trophy finalist and Lombardi Award semifinalist in 2004. A starter in every game of his career, Eslinger was named 2005 Preseason First Team All-America by numerous publications and has been posted to several linemen awards watch lists. 

A motivational speaker to elementary and junior high school students, Eslinger helps organize shoe collections and donations for underprivileged children. He is also a volunteer for the Special Olympics. Eslinger was selected in the sixth round (198th overall) of the 2006 NFL Draft by the Denver Broncos. He was assigned to the Cologne Centurions of NFL Europe in 2007 and earned All-NFL Europe honors. 

Eslinger also appeared on the rosters of the Cleveland Browns and the Houston Texans. He is currently an orthopedic sales consultant for DePuy Orthopedics in Fargo, N.D.