Shenandoah senior quarterback Hayden Bauserman, Trine senior running back Lamar Carswell, St. John's junior quarterback Jackson Erdmann and Wartburg senior quarterback Matt Sacia are the four finalists for the 2018 Gagliardi Trophy.

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 at the age of 91. 

The four finalists were voted on by a 39-member panel and a fan vote, which whittled the field down from 13 semifinalists. 

A total of 16,226 ballots were cast in the fan vote, with Harry Henschler, UW-Whitewater defensive end, finishing tops in the the fan balloting. He edged out Erdmann by fewer than 40 votes to earn the top spot on the fan ballot. Erdmann, Denison quarterback Canaan Gebele and Sacia rounded out the top four on the fans' ballot.

The winner of the Gagliardi Trophy will be presented with the award at a reception on his campus at a time to be determined following the NCAA Division III football playoffs. 

The other semifinalists: Reese Childress of Hardin-Simmons; Danny Robinson of Mount Union; LeAnthony Reasnover of Eureka; Harry Henschler of UW-Whitewater; Nick Giorgio of Springfield; Eric Stevenson of Wheaton (Ill.); Canaan Gebele of Denison; Joe Germinerio of Brockport; Broc Rutter of North Central (Ill.).