COLLEGEVILLE, Minn. – Nov. 23, 2021 – Twelve seniors and three juniors make up the semifinalists for the 2021 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 also contains nominees from all six NCAA regions. Twelve quarterbacks head up the list, along with two wide receivers and one defensive back/punter/returner. Eleven of the fifteen participated in the first round of the Division III playoffs.
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 passed away at the age of 91 in 2018. John retired in 2012 with 489 career victories, the most in college football history.
The Gagliardi Trophy finalists will be announced during a live show on Thursday, Dec. 9, on
www.D3football.com. Hosts Pat Coleman and Frank Rossi will profile the finalists during the program. The 2021 Gagliardi Trophy winner will be revealed on D3football.com during the week of the NCAA Division III football national championship on Friday, Dec. 17 at 7 p.m. CT. In the lead up to the announcement of the 2021 Gagliardi Trophy winner, D3football.com and the J-Club Twitter account (@ JClubSJU) will provide updates on specific dates and times of the announcement.
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.
The J-Club and Jostens did not award the Gagliardi Trophy in 2020 as NCAA Division III football did not have a traditional fall season. North Central College (Ill.) quarterback Broc Rutter was the 27th and most recent recipient of the award in 2019.
Nominations were submitted by colleges across the country, and the semifinalists were selected by the J-Club Board of Directors. In past years, up to fifteen semifinalists have been named. The Gagliardi Trophy national-selection committee is comprised of 18 Division III coaches (three from each NCAA Region), six Division III administrators (one from each region), twelve regional notable voters (two from each region), and eight National voters with Division III backgrounds. A fan vote, which runs until Dec. 3, will be live soon on D3football.com. No J-Club members vote as part of the national-selection committee.
2021 Gagliardi Trophy Semifinalists
-Ian Blankenship, United States Merchant Marine Academy (N.Y.)
QB | 5-8, 206 | Senior | Maritime Logistics and Security
-Jefferson Fritz, University of Mary-Hardin Baylor (Texas)
DB/P/RET | 5-11, 205 | Senior | Sports Management
Cody Gustafson, Grove City College (Pa.)
WR | 6-3, 190 | Senior | Math & Finance
Blaine Hawkins, Central College (Iowa)
QB | 5-11, 210 | Senior | Economics & Business Management
Michael Hnatkowsky, Muhlenberg College (Pa.)
QB | 6-1, 212 | Senior | Business Administration
Tucker Horn, Trinity University (Texas)
QB | 6-1, 195 | Junior | Finance
-Tyler Jarnagin, Benedictine University (Ill.)
QB | 6-2, 210 | Senior | Sociology & Criminal Justice
-Kyle Jones, Hardin-Simmons University (Texas)
QB | 5-11, 205 | Senior | Exercise Science & Kinesiology
-Andrew Kamienski, North Central College (Ill.)
WR | 6-0, 190 | Senior | Entrepreneurship & Small Business Management
-Max Meylor, University of Wisconsin-Whitewater
QB | 6-2, 225 | Senior | Occupational Safety
-Braxton Plunk, University of Mount Union (Ohio)
QB | 6-0, 180 | Junior | Finance
-Jaran Roste, Bethel University (Minn.)
QB | 6-4, 220 | Junior | Social Studies Education
-Brees Segala, SUNY-Cortland
QB | 6-2, 200 | Senior | Sports Management
-Wyatt Smith, Linfield University (Ore.)
QB | 6-0, 200 | Senior | Physics & Mathematics
-Gavin Zimbelman, Aurora University (Ill.)
QB | 5-10, 195 | Senior | Sports Management
