COLLEGEVILLE, Minn. – Nine seniors and three juniors make up the semifinalists for the 2019 Gagliardi Trophy, an award presented by Jostens and the J-Club of Saint John's University (Minn.), to the most outstanding football player in NCAA Division III.
The semifinalist list contains nominees from all four NCAA regions. Six quarterbacks and four running backs head up the list. Six of the 12 participated in the first round of the Division III playoffs Nov. 23.
The Gagliardi Trophy, given annually since 1993, recognizes excellence in athletics, academics and community service. The award is named after
John Gagliardi, Saint John's legendary Hall of Fame head football coach who retired in 2012 with 489 career victories, the most in college football history. He passed away in October 2018 at the age of 91.
The Gagliardi Trophy finalists will be announced during a 20-minute show Tuesday, Dec. 10, on www.D3football.com.
The trophy design features a sculpture of Gagliardi and a player, representing the teacher-coach and the student-athlete in a one-on-one sideline consultation. Hand-cast in bronze on a polished wood base, the trophy stands nearly two feet tall and weighs approximately 64 pounds. The words "The Gagliardi Trophy presented by Jostens & J-Club" are printed on the acrylic panel behind the figures. The words "Division III 2019 Player of the Year" and "Honoring Excellence in Football, Academics and Community Service" are etched on two panels below the figures.
Nominations were submitted by colleges across the country, and the semifinalists were selected by the J-Club Board of Directors. In past years, between 10 and 13 semifinalists have been named. The Gagliardi Trophy national-selection committee is comprised of 16 Division III coaches (four from each NCAA Region), four Division III administrators (one from each region), eight regional notable voters (two from each region), and eight national voters with Division III backgrounds. A fan vote, which runs until Dec. 9, will be live soon on D3football.com. No J-Club members vote.
2019 Gagliardi Trophy Semifinalists
Jackson Erdmann, Saint John's University
QB | 6-4, 215 | Senior | Global Business Leadership
Joe Germinerio, Ithaca College
QB | 6-2, 225 | Senior | Business Administration
Jaquan Hemphill, Hardin-Simmons University
RB | 5-11, 185 | Senior | Exercise Science
Joey Longoria, University of Mary Hardin-Baylor
DT | 6-1, 285 | Senior | Computer Science
Alex Minton, Denison University
RB | 5-10, 215 | Senior | Biology
Mason Opple, Hope College
QB | 6-3, 236 | Senior | Business
Josh Parks, University of St. Thomas
RB | 5-10, 202 | Senior | Business Management
Broc Rutter, North Central College (Ill.)
QB | 6-2, 204 | Senior | Marketing
Robert Shufford, Birmingham-Southern College
RB | 5-7, 170 | Junior | Finance, Mathematics
Wyatt Smith, Linfield College
QB | 6-0, 205 | Junior | Finance
Cole Spieker, University of Wisconsin-La Crosse
WR | 6-2, 215 | Senior | Middle Childhood-Early Adolescence Education
Gavin Zimbelman, Aurora University
QB | 5-10, 185 | Junior | Business Administration and Sports Management
