Gagliardi Trophy semifinalists announced

 
Jackson Erdmann, with St. John's coach Gary Fasching, after receiving the 2018 Gagliardi Trophy.
D3sports.com photo

Nine seniors and three juniors make up the semifinalists for the 2019 Gagliardi Trophy, an award presented by Jostens and the J-Club of Saint John's University to the most outstanding football player in NCAA Division III. The semifinalist list also contains nominees from all four NCAA regions. Six quarterbacks and four running backs head up the list. 

D3football.com will reveal the finalists on a live streaming broadcast on the afternoon of Thursday, Dec. 12.

Six of the twelve participated in the first round of the Division III playoffs. 

After screening the schools' nominations, the SJU J-Club Board of Directors narrowed the field to 12 semifinalists. The 40-member Gagliardi Trophy national selection committee reviews the credentials, ranks the candidates 1-12 and casts their votes. Fan balloting, which is available on D3football.com, accounts for the 41st ballot, and is being conducted on D3football.com for the 10th consecutive year. Fans will be permitted to cast one ballot per device, through 1 p.m. ET on Dec. 9. 

The Gagliardi Trophy, given annually since 1993, recognizes excellence in athletics, academics and community service. The award is named after the late 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. Gagliardi passed away in October 2018 at the age of 91. 

In its message to the voting panel, the Gagliardi Trophy administration reminds voters: "The Gagliardi Trophy is a football award but incorporates the philosophy of the well-rounded student-athlete."

Depending on the year, between 10 and 13 semifinalists have been sent to the voters in the past.

The Gagliardi Trophy national selection committee is comprised of 16 Division III coaches (four from each NCAA region), four Division III administrators (one from each region), eight regional notable voters (two from each region),and eight national voters with Division III backgrounds, plus one fan ballot from D3football.com voting, which runs through Monday, Dec. 9, the same day the national-selection voting is closed. No members of the J-Club vote.

 


Jackson Erdmann mug shot Jackson Erdmann

St. John's senior quarterback; Rosemount, Minnesota

Led SJU (9-1, 7-1 MIAC) to a share of its MIAC-record 34th conference title and 30th postseason appearance (26th in Division III) in 2019. ... Ended the regular season as the NCAA Division III leader in passing yards (3,352), was second in passing yards per game (335.2), third in total offense per game (348.8), fourth in yards per pass attempt (10.61). ... Owns MIAC and SJU record for passing touchdowns (124), as well as the school record for touchdowns responsible for (128), yards of total offense in a game (563), yards of total offense in a season (3,626) and most 300-yard passing games (11). Erdmann is second in school history in career pass attempts (1,015), career pass completions (643), career passing yards (9,951), career yards of total offense (10,364) and wins as a starting quarterback (34). ... Consensus 2018 All-American (AP, AFCA, D3football.com). ... 2018 D3football.com National Offensive Player of the Year. 2018 MIAC Most Valuable Player. ... 2-time All-MIAC first-team selection (2017-18; likely 3-time after the Nov. 21 coaches’ meeting). ... Earned a Fulbright English Teaching Assistant award, sponsored by the Department of State and the J. William Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board, to teach English in Malaysia starting in January 2020. ... Lone student-athlete from Division III on the NCAA working group appointed by the NCAA president and Board of Governors that examined issues highlighted in recently proposed federal and state legislation related to student-athlete name, image and likeness. ... Currently teaches and tutors advanced math students ranging from grades 5-8 at All Saints Academy in nearby St. Joseph for an hour each weekday. ... Helped the SJU football team raise money for Tackle Cancer and the "Up Till Dawn" campaign, collecting donations for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, the last four seasons. ... Participated in an 18-day (Jan. 25-Feb. 11, 2018) service trip to northern Thailand, where he worked with various organizations that fight child sex trafficking. He spent a week with Courageous Love, which is an organization that rescues victims of sex trafficking or children that are a high risk of being trafficked. He spent a day with Project Justice in an impoverished, mountain village. The village's children are frequently trafficked and/or use drugs. The group ended the service trip by spending five days with The Little Farm Thailand. Tasks included building fences and a goat house, gardening and chopping wood.

   


Joe Germinerio mug shot

Joe Germinerio

Ithaca senior quarterback; Wynantskill, New York

Set single season school record for passing yards with 3,128...two TDs away from tying single season record of 34. ... Ranks top 10 in six different offensive categories in Division III. ... Liberty League Offensive Performer of the Week – Sept. 9 ... Liberty League Honor Roll – Sept. 23 ... Liberty League Offensive Performer of the Week – Oct. 21 ... Liberty League Honor Roll – Oct. 26 ... Liberty League Offensive Performer of the Week – Nov. 18 ... D3football.com Team of the Week – Nov. 18 ... First-Team All-Liberty League. ... Finished regular season 258-for-370 passing, with 3,128 yards and 32 touchdowns, with eight interceptions. He ran for 407 yards on 114 carries, including a season-best 34 carries for 159 yards and three touchdowns in a 32-20 win vs. Cortland at MetLife Stadium on Nov. 16.

Jaquan Hemphill mug Jaquan Hemphill

Hardin-Simmons senior running back; Coleman, Texas

Broke the school's all-time record for touchdowns and finished second all-time with 3,906 yards. He finished 82 yards behind the school record and he did it on 226 fewer carries. In 2019, he rushed for 1321 yards and 12 touchdowns and had 11 catches for 190 yards and four more scores. ... Uses his time in the community by serving in the Reading With The Cowboys program at Ortiz Elementary (a high-risk elementary close to campus). He has also volunteered with the Special Olympics.


Joey Longoria mug Joey Longoria

Mary Hardin-Baylor senior defensive tackle; Pearland, Texas

D3football.com Preseason All-American. ... Lindy's Magazine Preseason All-American. ... American Southwest Conference Preseason Defensive Player of the Year. ... Team's fourth leading tackler. ... Ranks among team leaders in tackles for loss and sacks. ... CoSIDA Academic All-District VIII as a junior. ... Three-time ASC Academic All-Conference selection. ... Belton ISD - "Reading To Kids" mentorship program all four years at UMHB. ... Serves as a mentor to an autistic child in the summers. ... Volunteers every Wednesday at the 411 House in Temple, mentoring kids who lack a positive male role model in their lives.


Alex Minton Alex Minton

Denison senior running back; Bethel Park, Pennsylvania

Team Captain. ... NCAC Offensive Player of the Year, First Team All-North Coast Athletic Conference. ... Led the NCAC in rushing for the second consecutive season with 1,550 yards. ... ended the regular season ranked fourth in Division III in rushing yards, seventh in rushing touchdowns (18) and third in total touchdowns (21). ... broke the Denison single-season rushing record of 1,517 yards, set in 1979. ... broke the Denison single-season record for rushing touchdowns set in 1966. ... leaves Denison ranked third in rushing yards (3,919) and first in rushing touchdowns (44). ... is the second player in Denison history to post three consecutive 1,000-yard rushing seasons. ... ranks first in program history with 6.4 yards per carry. ... rushed for a career-high 255 yards in the regular-season finale vs. Kenyon. ... his four career 200-yard rushing games are tied with Chris Spriggs for the most in program history. ... had 17, 100-yard rushing games in 31 career games played. ... is the program’s all-time leading scorer (300 points: 50 TDs). ... ranks second in career all-purpose yards (4,429). ... named to CoSIDA Academic All-District first-team. ... named NCAC Offensive Player of the Week on Oct. 28 and again on Nov. 4. ... in 616 career rushing attempts, he was stopped for a loss only 13 times. ... helped lead Denison to its second consecutive North Coast Athletic Conference Championship in 2019. ... 2019 CoSIDA Academic All-District First Team, a finalist for CoSIDA Academic All-America team. ... Dean's list (two semesters at Drake, one at Denison). Denison University Dean’s List is a 3.70 GPA for the semester. Drake University Dean’s List is 3.50 for the semester. ... Member of Alpha Epsilon Delta, a pre-health honor society, where qualified applicants can apply to become members in order to assist them in their health field related career journeys. Minimum requirements for Alpha Epsilon Delta is a 3.3 cumulative GPA.


Mason Opple Mason Opple

Hope senior quarterback; Hudsonville, Michigan

Led team to second nine-win season, first MIAA championship since 2007 and first playoff berth since 2006. Directed No. 11 in scoring offense at 46.0 points per game and No. 8 in rushing offense at 288.0 yards per game. Named Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association Offensive Player of the Year. Completed 107 of 168 passes for 1,496 yards and 16 touchdowns. Has not thrown an interception and recorded a 63.7 percent completion rate. He also finished second on the team in rushing with 839 yards and a team-leading 16 touchdowns on 156 carries. In MIAA play, threw for 834 yards and eight touchdowns and ran for 633 yards and 11 touchdowns. Is now third all-time in team history with 45 rushing touchdowns and is four from matching school record. ... Worked as a counselor at Kirk Cousins Football Camp on campus. Facilitated and built positive group dynamics by organizing team-based activities. Lead a group of 15 middle schoolers while developing and supporting their physical, emotional, and spiritual capacity. Officiated Special Olympics basketball 2 years ... Officiated elementary basketball four years. Helped develop reading and writing skills at West Ottawa Elementary schools. Assistant high school freshman boys basketball coach and freshman baseball coach at Hudsonville High School, his alma mater.


Josh Parks Josh Parks

St. Thomas senior running back; Chisago Lakes, Minnesota

Played 41 games over four seasons at UST, helping team to 39-7 record and three solo or shared conference championships and two NCAA playoff appearances. ... 2018 D3football.com All-American. ... Set school records for touchdowns (60) and rushing yards (4,180). Broke conference record for rushing touchdowns in MIAC games (45). ... Had 22 career 100-plus yard rushing games despite being co-starter his first two seasons. ... Recorded two of the five 100-plus yard rushing games allowed by St. John's over the Johnnies' past 45 games. ... Business management major. ... Created his own fitness clothing line and company in 2017. His company, Ghostfit, makes workout gear which emphasizes comfort and style. Ghostfit was inspired by the nickname 'Ghost' that Parks' brother gave him for his speed on the gridiron. ... Volunteer and fundraiser, St. Jude's Children's Hospital (2016-2019). ... Volunteer youth football camp worker, Chisago Lakes High School.


Broc Rutter mug Broc Rutter

North Central (Ill.) senior quarterback; Naperville, Illinois

CCIW Art Keller Offensive Player of the Year (3rd time winner) and First Team All-CCIW (4-time honoree). Established CCIW career records for passing completions (708), yards (9,772) and touchdowns (107) in conference play. Led North Central to CCIW team records for single-season points (507), touchdowns (71) and total offensive yards (5,188) in CCIW games. ... Currently ranks as NCAA active all-divisions leader in passing yards (12,794) and is poised to take over active all-divisions lead in total offense. Ranks 2nd nationally in passing touchdowns and efficiency while ranking 3rd in completion percentage and 8th in yards. North Central currently ranks 1st nationally in scoring offense (55.0 ppg) and total offense (569.6 ypg). ... On track to set new North Central records for TD passes and completion percentage after setting records for completions, attempts and yards in 2018. North Central's all-time career leader in every passing category. North Central finished the regular season ranked No. 5 by D3football.com and the AFCA, matching its 2nd-highest national ranking ever. ... Volunteers with Best Buddies - After-school program for special-needs men and women. ... Volunteers with Peer Partners - Program which provides activities, games and sports for special-needs children. These children have come to North Central games and Broc has spent significant time outside the program with them. ... Home to Home - Broc assists with moving homeless families into donated apartment homes.

 


Robert Shufford mug Robert Shufford

Birmingham-Southern junior running back; McKenzie, Alabama

Shufford is the national leader in rushing yards, rush yards per carry, and all-purpose yards, while also leading the conference in five other stats, and ranking nationally in 11 total categories. He broke the program and conference single-season rushing record (1,834 yards), and set new single-season program records for: rushing attempts, yards per rush, yards per game, total offense per play, all-purpose yards, all-purpose yards per game, and scoring. ... He ran for 100+ yards in a program record nine consecutive games, and put up over 200 yards four times this season, including a 282 yard performance on the road where he also collected three touchdowns. ... Shufford is a four-time D3football.com Team of the Week running back and has earned conference offensive player of the week honors three times this season. ... This past summer, Shufford volunteered at the Gulf Coast HUD/Section 8 Community Day in Pascagoula, Miss. He has visited patients at Children's of Alabama Hospital, and served meals at the Jimmie Hale mission in the offseason.


Wyatt Smith mug Wyatt Smith

Linfield junior quarterback; McMinnville, Oregon

Northwest Conference Offensive Player of the Year, 2019 ... Selected as Northwest Conference Offensive Player of the Week a record 6 times in 9 weeks in 2019. ... Led Linfield to the 2019 Northwest Conference championship, throwing the title-clinching touchdown pass in overtime. ... Nine 300-yard passing games in 2019. ... Six games with 4 or more touchdown passes in 2019. ... Five games without throwing an interception in 2019. ... Set Linfield single-game record with 8 touchdown passes vs. Puget Sound. ... Ranks No. 1 in NCAA Division III in passing yards per game (346.80). ... Ranks No. 3 in NCAA Division III in touchdown passes (39). ... No. 4 in NCAA Division III in completion percentage (72.0). ... No. 4 in NCAA Division III in completions per game (26.56). ... No. 4 in NCAA Division III in passing efficiency (185.50). ... CoSIDA Academic All-District 8 honoree in football and baseball, 2019. ... Named to the Dean’s List 2017, 2018, 2019 (finance major). ... Volunteers weekly at Memorial Elementary School, reading with students and working with the youngsters on projects. ... Serves as scholastic chairman of the Theta Chi Fraternity, monitoring each member’s academic standing and offering support through setting up study hall times, tutoring and other intervention programs. ... Tutors teammates who are struggling with math.


Cole Spieker mug Cole Spieker

UW-La Crosse senior wide receiver; Brainerd, Minnesota

All-WIAC First Team. ... WIAC Offensive Player of the Year. ... Four-time WIAC Offensive Player of the Year nominee (one selection). ... School record 83 receptions. ... Second in school history in single-season receiving yards (1,216) and fourth in touchdowns (12). ... Leads WIAC in receptions, receptions per game, receiving yards, receiving yards per game, receiving touchdowns. ... Sixth in NCAA III in receiving yards and receiving yards per game, seventh in receptions per game and tied for 21st in receiving touchdowns. ... At least two touchdown receptions in four games. ... Single-game school record 17 receptions. ... Five games with at least 100 yards receiving. ... Member of WIAC Scholastic Honor Roll. ... After school tutoring/homework club at Logan Middle School. ... Volunteering for UWL youth football camps. ... Volunteer for La Crosse Walking School Bus. ... Clean up help with area flooding. ... Handing out Thanksgiving meals for Brainerd (Minn.) Legion.


Gavin Zimbelman mug

Gavin Zimbelman

Aurora junior quarterback; Manteno, Illinois

Zimbelman led Aurora to a 9-1 overall record, a Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference Championship and the programs first NCAA appearance since 2008. He set new records for a single season and career marks as a passer this season while setting a new conference record for touchdown passes, breaking the old mark which was 34 with his current 51. ... He has thrown for 3,182 yards on 241-of-383 passing, 51 touchdowns and nine interceptions. he has completed 62.9-percent of his passes for 318.2 per game and a 171.96 efficiency. Entering the first round of the NCAA playoffs, he is first nationally in passing touchdowns (51), points responsible for (326), points responsible for per game (32.6) and total offense (353.7 per game), fourth in passing yards (3,182) fifth in passing yards per game (318.2), ninth in completions per game (24.10) and 14th in passing efficiency (171.96). ... 2017-2018 LEAD Program @ AU. ... 2019 Inducted into the NHS @ AU Phi Eta Sigma National Honor Society. ... 2019 CoSIDA Academic All-District. ... 2017-2018 AU Scholar Athlete. ... 2017-2018 Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference Scholar Athlete. ... Volunteers as coach for former high school team, at Aurora Food Pantry, for the CAAEL Basketball Tournament and as a mentor for Triple Threat Mentoring Program.