COLLEGEVILLE, Minn. - December 17, 2021 - Central College (Iowa) senior quarterback Blaine Hawkins is the winner of the 2021 Gagliardi Trophy, an award presented by Jostens to the most outstanding football player in NCAA Division III. 

Hawkins is the 16th quarterback to win the Gagliardi Trophy in the 29-year history of the award. He led the Dutch to a 12-1 record and the second round of the NCAA Division III playoffs. He finished the season with an astounding, NCAA all-division record 63 touchdown passes. 

A two-time American Rivers Conference Offensive Player of the Year Award winner, Hawkins was recently named the D3football.com All-Region 5 Offensive Player of the Year. He set a new Division III mark with seven touchdown passes in a half Sept. 25 at Simpson College (Iowa), which matches the all-divisions record. For the season, Hawkins completed 331 of 468 passes (.707) for 4,475 yards and a school-record 192.05 pass-efficiency rating. He broke nearly every passing and total offense record at Central and set American Rivers marks for season passing yards and touchdowns in league games.

Hawkins dominated the voting with well over 75 percent of all first-place votes and was a top-three choice for all but four voters (39 of 43 of the ballots cast).  

The other 2021 finalists were University of Mary Hardin-Baylor (Texas) defensive back Jefferson Fritz, North Central College (Ill.) wide receiver Andrew Kamienski, Linfield University (Ore.) quarterback Wyatt Smith and Aurora University (Ill.) quarterback Gavin Zimbelman.

Kamienski and the defending national champions, North Central, face Fritz and Mary Hardin-Baylor tonight (Dec. 17) in the Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl (the NCAA Division III championship game) in Canton, Ohio.

-Blaine Hawkins, Central College (Iowa)
QB | 5-11, 210 | Senior | Economics & Business Management

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. John passed away in 2018 at the age of 91.

The five Gagliardi Trophy finalists were revealed Dec. 9 by D3football.com during a live-video broadcast. 

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 over 40 pounds. The words "The Gagliardi Trophy presented by Jostens & J-Club" are printed on the acrylic panel behind the figures. The words "Division III 2021 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 15 semifinalists were selected by the J-Club Board of Directors. The semifinalists then moved on to the Gagliardi Trophy national-selection committee, which is comprised of 42 Division III coaches, administrators, former Gagliardi Trophy recipients, business leaders and sports writers deemed experts in Division III football from around the country. A fan ballot, which served as the 43rd vote was operated on D3football.com and had over 30,000 votes cast. Fritz, of Mary Hardin-Baylor won the Fan Vote.

Past Winners
2020 - Not awarded due to the COVID-19 pandemic
2019 - Broc Rutter, QB, North Central College (Ill.)
2018 - Jackson Erdmann, QB, Saint John's University (Minn.)
2017 - Brett Kasper, QB, University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh 
2016 - Carter Hanson, LB, Saint John's University (Minn.) 
2015 - Joe Callahan, QB, Wesley College (Del.)
2014 - Kevin Burke, QB, University of Mount Union (Ohio) 
2013 - Kevin Burke, QB, University of Mount Union (Ohio) 
2012 - Scottie Williams, RB, Elmhurst College (Ill.) 
2011 - Michael Zweifel, WR, University of Dubuque (Iowa)
2010 - Eric Watt, QB, Trine University (Ind.)
2009 - Blaine Westemeyer, OL, Augustana College (Ill.) 
2008 - Greg Micheli, QB, Mount Union College (Ohio)
2007 - Justin Beaver, RB, University of Wisconsin-Whitewater 
2006 - Josh Brehm, QB, Alma College (Mich.) 
2005 - Brett Elliott, QB, Linfield College (Ore.)
2004 - Rocky Myers, SS, Wesley College (Del.)
2003 - Blake Elliott, WR/PR/KR, Saint John's University (Minn.)
2002 - Dan Pugh, RB, Mount Union College (Ohio)
2001 - Chuck Moore, RB, Mount Union College (Ohio)
2000 - Chad Johnson, QB, Pacific Lutheran University (Wash.)
1999 - Danny Ragsdale, QB, University of Redlands (Calif.)
1998 - Scott Hvistendahl, WR/P, Augsburg College (Minn.)
1997 - Bill Borchert, QB, Mount Union College (Ohio)
1996 - Lon Erickson, QB, Illinois Wesleyan University
1995 - Chris Palmer, WR, Saint John's University (Minn.)
1994 - Carey Bender, RB, Coe College (Iowa)
1993 - Jim Ballard, QB, Mount Union College (Ohio)

About Jostens
Founded in 1897 and based in Minneapolis, Minn., Jostens is a trusted partner in the academic and achievement channel, providing products, programs and services that help its customers celebrate important moments. The company's products comprise yearbooks, publications, jewelry and consumer goods that serve the K-12 educational, college and professional sports segments.

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.