Carnegie Mellon athletics; Illinois College athletics; Doug Sasse, d3photography.com; Darl Zehr Photography; Ryan Coleman, d3photography.com

Five finalists for the 2024 Gagliardi Trophy, presented by Stearns Bank, for the most outstanding football player in NCAA Division III are announced. These five finalists were cut down from 18 semifinalists announced two weeks ago.

The Gagliardi Trophy, given annually since 1993, is awarded to the most outstanding NCAA Division III football player and recognizes excellence in athletics, academics and community service. The award is named after John Gagliardi, Saint John's legendary Hall of Fame head football coach who passed away at the age of 91 in 2018. John retired in 2012 with 489 career victories, the most in college football history.

Stearns Bank’s longtime CEO Norm Skalicky and Gagliardi were great friends and admirers of one another. Both became legends in their respective fields - not just because of their success, but because of how they looked uniquely upon their work.

Four of the five finalists are quarterbacks. Illinois College’s Destin Chance leads NCAA Division III in total offense (417.9 yds/game.) Last year’s Gagliardi Trophy recipient, North Central’s Luke Lehnen, leads the country in passing efficiency (205.4). Aaron Syverson of Saint John’s leads the division in passing yards per game (365.2 yds.) and Cortland State’s Zac Boyes led the Dragons to the 2023 national championship. Carnegie Mellon linebacker Robert Coury is a four-time All-Presidents’ Athletic Conference (PAC) first-team honoree. The five finalists were all semifinalists for the Gagliardi Trophy in 2023.

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 Stearns Bank" 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.

The Gagliardi Trophy finalists were announced by D3football.com hosts Pat Coleman and Frank Rossi during a live show on D3football.com. The 2024 Gagliardi Trophy winner will be revealed on D3football.com during the week of the NCAA Division III football national championship on the evening of Friday, Jan. 3. In the lead up to the announcement of the 2024 Gagliardi Trophy winner, D3football.com will provide updates on specific dates and times of the announcement.

The Gagliardi Trophy national selection committee is comprised of 18 Division III coaches (three from each NCAA Region), six Division III administrators (one from each region), 12 regional notable voters (two from each region) and six national voters which included a “fan” vote which ran until Dec. 13.  No Saint John’s J-Club members vote as part of the national-selection committee.

Watch the finalist announcement show, with highlights of all 18 semifinalists: