Photos by d3photography.com, UMHB athletics

Three quarterbacks, one wide receiver and a safety make up the five finalists for the 2021 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 safety/punter/punt returner Jefferson Fritz; Central quarterback Blaine Hawkins; North Central wide receiver Andrew Kamienski; Linfield quarterback Wyatt Smith; Aurora quarterback Gavin Zimbelman.

The five Gagliardi Trophy finalists were revealed by D3football.com on Thursday, Dec. 9, in a live-streaming broadcast. The winner of the Gagliardi Trophy will be announced by D3football.com on Friday, Dec. 17, 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 30,000 votes cast.

The other semifinalists: Ian Blankenship, QB, Merchant Marine; Cody Gustafson, WR, Grove City; Michael Hnatkowsky, QB, Muhlenberg; Tucker Horn, QB, Trinity (Texas); Tyler Jarnagin, QB, Benedictine; Kyle Jones, QB, Hardin-Simmons; Max Meylor, QB, UW-Whitewater; Braxton Plunk, QB, Mount Union; Jaran Roste, QB, Bethel; Brees Segala, QB, Cortland.

Watch the finalist announcement show: