Vote Online (until Dec. 15)
COLLEGEVILLE, Minn. – The J-Club is proud to announce the 2025 Gagliardi Trophy, Presented by Stearns Bank's, 15 semifinalists.
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 list of 15 semifinalists features another quarterback-heavy class, as well as nominees from all six NCAA regions. Nearly all the semifinalists participated in at least the first round of the Division III playoffs. Three nominees – Wisconsin-River Falls' Kaleb Blaha (2023), Susquehanna's Josh Ehrlich (2024) and Curry's Diamontie Quinn (2024) – return from last year's list.
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. A fan vote, which runs until Dec. 15, will be live soon on D3football.com. No J-Club members vote as part of the national-selection committee.
The Gagliardi Trophy finalists will be announced during a live show at 4 p.m. ET Thursday, Dec. 19, on D3football.com. Host Pat Coleman will profile the finalists during the program. The 2025 Gagliardi Trophy winner will be revealed on D3football.com during the week of the NCAA Division III football national championship game. In the lead up to the announcement of the 2025 Gagliardi Trophy winner, D3football.com will provide updates on specific dates and times of the announcement.
2025 Gagliardi Trophy Semifinalists
Robby Ballentine
WR | Sr. | DePauw
Connor Barry
QB | Jr. | Christopher Newport
Kaleb Blaha
QB | Sr. | Wisconsin-River Falls
Kyle Brown
QB | Sr. | Hardin-Simmons
Jack Curtis
QB | Sr. | Carleton
Josh Ehrlich
QB | Sr. | Susquehanna
Mark Forcucci
QB | Sr. | Wheaton (Ill.)
Bay Harvey
QB | Gr. | Johns Hopkins
Gary Lewis
WR | Sr. | Franklin and Marshall
Diamontie "Montie" Quinn
RB | Sr. | Curry
Albert Rundell
WR | Jr. | Bethel
Nick Semptimphelter
QB | Gr. | John Carroll
Thomas Skokna
WR | Sr. | North Central
Tyler Szalkowski
QB | Sr. | Utica
Eddie Williams
RB | Sr. | Alma
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.
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, Minnesota.
Gagliardi Trophy Winners
2024 - Luke Lehnen, QB, North Central College (Ill.)
2023 - Luke Lehnen, QB, North Central College (Ill.)
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)
