Photos by Tom Nettleon, Larry Radloff, Caleb Williams, Doug Sasse, d3photography.com

Three quarterbacks and a running back make up the four finalists for the 2022 Gagliardi Trophy, an award presented by Jostens to the most outstanding football player in NCAA Division III.

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. 

The finalists for the award are Mary Hardin-Baylor quarterback Kyle King; Bethel quarterback Jaran Roste; Mount Union quarterback Braxton Plunk; North Central running back Ethan Greenfield. The finalists were revealed by D3football.com on Wednesday, Dec. 7, in a live-streaming broadcast. The winner of the Gagliardi Trophy will be announced by D3football.com on Friday, Dec. 16, prior to the Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl. 

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 more than 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 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 finalists then moved on to the Gagliardi Trophy national-selection committee, which is comprised of 18 coaches, six NCAA Division III administrators, 12 regional voters and seven national Division III experts. Each cast a ballot ranking the top three semifinalists. A fan ballot, which served as the 40th committee member was operates on D3football.com had more than 13,000 votes cast.

The remainder of the semifinalists: Wheaton quarterback Will Bowers; UW-Whitewater quarterback Evan Lewandowski; Birmingham-Southern running back Jon Lewis; Tufts receiver Phil Lutz; Baldwin Wallace running back Jon Murray Jr.; Delaware Valley defensive end Michael Nobile; Utica wide receiver Nate Palmer; UW-La Crosse running back Joey Stutzman; Hardin-Simmons guard Boomer Warren; Ithaca quarterback A.J. Wingfield; Saint John's defensive end Michael Wozniak.

Watch the finalist announcement show:

Highlight reel

Remainder of show