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COLLEGEVILLE, Minn. – After a record number of Gagliardi Trophy nominations this year, and the introduction of our new presenting sponsor Stearns Bank, 20 candidates have been selected to move on to the voters as semifinalists for the 2023 Gagliardi Trophy. 

Fifteen seniors lead the quarterback-heavy class of semifinalists for an award presented by Stearns Bank 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. Multiple positions are represented: 10 quarterbacks, six defensive players, three running backs and one wide receiver. Fourteen of the 20 semifinalists participated in the first round of the Division III playoffs. 

The Gagliardi Trophy, given annually since 1993 is awarded to the most outstanding NCAA Division III football player and 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. 7, on D3football.com. Hosts Pat Coleman and Frank Rossi will profile the finalists during the program. The 2023 Gagliardi Trophy winner will be revealed on D3football.com during the week of the NCAA Division III football national championship on the evening of Friday, Dec. 15. In the lead up to the announcement of the 2023 Gagliardi Trophy winner, D3football.com will provide updates on specific dates and times of the announcement.

The 2022 Gagliardi Trophy was awarded to North Central College (Ill.) senior running back Ethan Greenfield.

A record number of nominations were submitted by colleges across the country, and the semifinalists were selected by the J-Club Board of Directors. 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), 12 regional notable voters (two from each region) and six national voters with Division III backgrounds. No J-Club members vote as part of the national-selection committee. A fan vote, which runs until Dec. 2, is live soon D3football.com. - Vote

2023 Gagliardi Trophy Semifinalists
-Kaleb Blaha 
QB | Junior | UW-River Falls

-Justin Blazek
DE | Senior | UW-Platteville

-Kolbe Blunt
RB | Senior | Belhaven

-Zac Boyes
QB | Junior | Cortland State

-Jake Breitbach
WR | Senior | Gustavus Adolphus

-Brandon Cade
RB | Junior | Berry

-Drew Campanale
QB | Senior | Randolph-Macon

-Destin Chance
QB | Junior | Illinois College

-Robert Coury
LB | Senior | Carnegie Mellon

-Owen Grover
LB | Senior | Wartburg

-Egon Hein
DB | Senior | UW-Whitewater

-Keyser Helterbrand
QB | Senior | UW-La Crosse

-Tucker Horn
QB | Senior | Trinity (Texas)

-Tomás Kenary
DL | Senior | Middlebury

-Luke Lehnen
QB | Junior | North Central (Ill.)

-Braxton Plunk
QB | Senior | Mount Union

-Luke Schuermann
DL | Senior | Johns Hopkins

-Aaron Syverson
QB | Senior | Saint John's

-Josh Taylor
QB | Senior | Mount St. Joseph

-Giovanni Weeks
RB | Senior | Wheaton (Ill.)
  
Gagliardi Trophy Winners 
2022 - Ethan Greenfield, RB, North Central College (Ill.)
2021 - Blaine Hawkins, QB, Central College (Iowa)
2020 - Not awarded due to 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 Stearns Bank N.A.
Minnesota-based Stearns Bank National Association is a $2.2 billion, independently-owned financial institution with locations in Minnesota, Florida and Arizona, and over 35,000 small business customers nationwide, in every state across the U.S. Recognized as having a bullet-proof balance sheet with 25% capital and earning top rankings as one of the nation's highest-performing banks by American Banker, and most recently ranked fourth in the U.S. among banks having more than $1 billion in assets by Independent Banker's 2023 Best of the Best ranking of banks with the highest 3-year average Return on Assets, Stearns Bank specializes in nationwide commercial construction lending, USDA and SBA lending, and small business and equipment financing. Driven by a passion to help others achieve their greatest ambitions, Stearns Bank's mission is to Get the Job Done! For more information, visit StearnsBank.com
Media Contact—Rory Bidinger; Roryb@stearnsbank.com

About the 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.
Media Contact—Ryan Klinkner; rklinkner@csbsju.edu