SALEM, Va. - Wesley College (Del.) senior quarterback Joe Callahan was named the 2015 recipient of the Gagliardi Trophy tonight in Salem, Va., as the most outstanding football player in NCAA Division III this fall. Sponsored by Jostens and the J-Club of Saint John's University of Minnesota, the Gagliardi Trophy recognizes excellence in athletics, academics and community service.

Three other finalists were on hand at the 23rd annual Gagliardi Trophy award ceremony: senior quarterback Matt Pawlowski of Guilford College (N.C.), senior offensive tackle David Simmet from the University of St. Thomas (Minn.) and senior running back Sam Sura of Saint John's University (Minn.). 

A 2014 Gagliardi Trophy finalist and a 2015 College Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) Academic All-America first-team honoree, Callahan directed the Wolverines to the NCAA quarterfinals and ended the regular season as the Division III leader in five statistical categories: passing efficiency (196.0), passing touchdowns (43), passing yards (3,809), points responsible for per game (29.6) and total offense (410.6 ypg.).

He became the only NCAA Division III quarterback to throw for 5,000 yards or more in a season (all games), and his 55 touchdown passes this season were the second-most in NCAA Division III history. Callahan joined Hawaii's Colt Brennan as the only two quarterbacks in all of college football to throw for over 5,000 yards and 55 touchdowns in a season.

Callahan is the second Gagliardi Trophy recipient from Wesley, joining safety Rocky Myers (2004), who is the only defensive player to earn the honor. 

Trophy candidates are nominated by their college president and the four finalists, as well as the recipient, were selected by a national committee comprised of 40 former small-college football players, business leaders, academicians and sports writers from around the country.

Launched in 1993, the award is named after John Gagliardi, Saint John's legendary Hall of Fame head football coach who retired in November 2012 with 489 career victories, the most in college football history.

Background information on the other three 2015 Gagliardi Trophy finalists, including statistics through the end of the regular season, academic major and community service is listed below.

• Matt Pawlowski, Guilford College (N.C.)
6-2, 205 | Senior | Quarterback | Sport Management
Greensboro, N.C./Northwest Guilford H.S.
-Finished second in Division III in passing touchdowns (39) and was fifth in passing yards (3,333)…was sixth in both passing efficiency (180.5) and points responsible for per game (23.8)…set school and conference records for passing total offense and passing yards in a game…2014 Gagliardi Trophy semifinalist…volunteers weekly during the off-season mentoring students with academic or behavioral challenges…also served as a motivational speaker to local youth teams and volunteered with Relay for Life.

• David Simmet, University of St. Thomas (Minn.)
6-9, 350 | Senior | Offensive Tackle | Accounting
Stillwater, Minn./Hill-Murray H.S.
-Starting right tackle on an offense that led Division III in scoring (56.4 ppg.), finished third in total offense (564.8 ypg.) and fourth in first downs (274)…the Tommies allowed nine sacks and punted 12 times, including two 3-and-outs by the starting offense, during the regular season….2014 Academic All-American and 2015 CoSIDA Academic All-District honoree…collected money for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital…involved with community clean-up and Students Today Leaders Forever (STLF)…active with Feed My Starving Children and Special Olympics, as well as his home parish.

• Sam Sura, Saint John's University (Minn.)
5-11, 205 | Senior | Running Back | Accounting
South St. Paul, Minn./South St. Paul H.S.
-Ended the regular season fourth in Division III in rushing touchdowns (23) and average yards per carry (5.83), among backs with 250 carries or more…school's record-holder in career rushing attempts and entered the postseason one rushing touchdown and 41 rushing yards away from those school records…2014 Gagliardi Trophy semifinalist…volunteers with Feed My Starving Children and collected money for Tackle Cancer and St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.

About Jostens
Jostens is a trusted partner in the academic and achievement channel, providing products, programs and services that help its customers celebrate moments that matter. The company's products include yearbooks, publications, jewelry and consumer goods that serve the K-12 educational, college and professional sports segments. Founded in 1897 and based in Minneapolis, Jostens is a subsidiary of Jarden Corporation and can be found online at www.jostens.com.

About Jarden Corporation
Jarden Corporation is a diversified, global consumer products company with a portfolio of over 120 trusted, authentic brands. Jarden's record of strong financial performance and organic growth is supported by a focused operating culture coupled with value enhancing acquisitions and shareholder focused capital allocation. Jarden operates in three primary business segments through a number of well recognized brands, including: Branded Consumables: Ball®, Bee®, Bernardin®, Bicycle®, Billy Boy®, Crawford®, Diamond®, Envirocooler®, Fiona®, First Alert®, First Essentials®, Hoyle®, Kerr®, Lehigh®, Lifoam®, Lillo®, Loew-Cornell®, Mapa®, Millefiori®, NUK®, Pine Mountain®, Quickie®, Spontex®, Tigex®, Waddington, Yankee Candle® and YOU®; Outdoor Solutions: Abu Garcia®, AeroBed®, Berkley®, Campingaz® and Coleman®, Dalbello®, ExOfficio®, Fenwick®, Greys®, Gulp!®, Hardy®, Invicta®, Jostens®, K2®, Marker®, Marmot®, Mitchell®, Neff®, PENN®, Rawlings®, Shakespeare®, Squadra®, Stearns®, Stren®, Trilene®, Völkl® and Zoot®; and Consumer Solutions: Bionaire®, Breville®, Cadence®, Crock-Pot®, FoodSaver®, Health o meter®, Holmes®, Mr. Coffee®, Oster®, Patton®, Rainbow®, Rival®, Seal-a-Meal®, Sunbeam®, VillaWare® and White Mountain®. Headquartered in Florida, Jarden ranks No. 348 on the Fortune 500 and has over 35,000 employees worldwide. For further information about Jarden, please visit www.jarden.com. 

About Saint John's University J-Club
Founded in 1959, the Saint John's University J-Club is a dues-based booster organization of former Johnnie student-athletes, parents and fans, and plays a key role in support of the SJU varsity programs, intramurals and club sports. Saint John's is a private liberal arts college for men located in Collegeville, Minn.