| Eric Watt of Trine took home
the hardware in 2010. Which of these 10 will in
'11? Photo by Ryan Coleman, d3photography.com |
The 10 finalists for the 2011 Gagliardi Trophy were announced Tuesday morning, releasing the names that will be on the ballot in voting for Division III football's top student-athlete. This season, the winner will be announced in Salem, with four finalists present for the ceremony.
Last year, Trine quarterback Eric Watt brought home the trophy.
After screening the nominations, the SJU J-Club Board of Directors narrowed the field to 10 finalists. The 35-member Gagliardi Trophy national selection committee reviews the credentials, ranks the candidates 1-10 and casts their votes. Fan balloting, which will be available on D3football.com, accounts for one collective ballot as well, for the fifth consecutive year. Fans may cast one ballot apiece. The award is presented by Jostens and the J-Club of St. John's University of Minnesota.
Voting will take place after Thanksgiving.
In its message to the voting panel, the Gagliardi Trophy administration reminded voters: "The Gagliardi Trophy is a football award but incorporates the philosophy of the well-rounded student-athlete."
All stats are through the end of the regular season.
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Peter BulandrNorth Central (Ill.) senior defensive tackle, Long Grove, Ill. Conference defensive player of the year on team with three league shutouts in 2011; had six sacks on the season. Economics major and member of three national academic honor societies. Extensive volunteer efforts supporting Habitat for Humanity, Special Olympics, food drives. |
Alex FerraraMount Union senior safety, Independence, Ohio Team leader on nation’s No. 1 ranked defense yielding an average of 7.1 points, 172.7 yards per game. Returned one of two interceptions for a touchdown. Business administration major; named academic all-American in 2010. Conducted community-relief mission trip to El Salvador; involved in local youth programs. |
Chris HauptWidener junior quarterback, Bloomsburg, Pa. Threw for 255.5 yards per game with 28 TDs and nine interceptions; directed offense to 47 points/game average (third in D-III). Engineering major. Volunteered in residential clean-up project and for Special Olympics, American Cancer Society and youth baseball clinic. |
Dan PitcherCortland State senior quarterback, Cortland, N.Y. Conference offensive MVP rated seventh nationally with 166.61 passing efficiency rating; had school record 29 TD passes (fifth most in D-III) with four interceptions. Sport management grad student received state post-graduate scholarship. Participated in bone marrow registry drive, volunteer coaching and Kids’ Day. |
Alex TanneyMonmouth senior quarterback, Normal, Ill. Led D-III with 330.4 passing yards/game as team compiled top total offense (556.7 yards/game). Was third in passing efficiency (193.34 rating; 73 percent completions, 35 TDs, seven interceptions); fourth in total offense. Business major. Volunteer programs include college phone-a-thon, YMCA and youth reading readiness. |
Alex ThirySt. Scholastica senior quarterback from Cambridge, Minn. Top-rated D-III passer with 235.54 efficiency rating; had 37 TD passes and one interception while completing 73.3% of his passes. Secondary education/social studies major. Volunteers with a variety of programs supporting Meals on Wheels, Salvation Army, Down Syndrome Walk, local schools. |
Hewitt TomlinJohns Hopkins senior quarterback from Jackson, Tenn. Directed fourth-best D-III total offense with 500.3 yards/game in JHU’s first 10-0 season. Conference offensive player of the year with 23 TD passes, five interceptions. Public health major. Worked with summer day camp youth. |
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Matt Blanchard 
Fritz Waldvogel
Michael Zweifel