| Elmhurst's Scottie Williams
won the Gagliardi Trophy in 2012. Who will win it in
2013? Photo by Ryan Coleman, d3photography.com |
The 10 finalists for the 2013 Gagliardi Trophy were announced, releasing the names that will be on the ballot in voting for Division III football's top student-athlete. This season, the winner will be announced in Salem, with four finalists present for the ceremony.
Last year, Elmhurst running back Scottie Williams brought home the trophy. The award is named for legendary St. John's coach John Gagliardi, who retired last year after 64 years as a collegiate head coach.
After screening the nominations, the SJU J-Club Board of Directors narrowed the field to 10 finalists. The 38-member Gagliardi Trophy national selection committee reviews the credentials, ranks the candidates 1-10 and casts their votes. Fan balloting, which will be available on D3football.com, accounts for one collective ballot as well, for the seventh consecutive year. Fans will be permitted to cast one ballot per device. The award is presented by Jostens and the J-Club of St. John's University of Minnesota.
Click here to cast your Gagliardi Trophy fan ballot.
In its message to the voting panel, the Gagliardi Trophy administration reminded voters: "The Gagliardi Trophy is a football award but incorporates the philosophy of the well-rounded student-athlete."
All stats are through Nov. 16.
- Kevin Burke, Mount Union
5-10, 190 | Junior | Quarterback | Business Administration
Westlake, Ohio/St. Edward H.S.
Second in Division III in passing efficiency (193.7) and third in points responsible for (234)…24-0 record as a starting quarterback…led Mount Union to 2012 national title…volunteers with Fellowship of Christian Athletes and Mount Union Relay for Life.
- Graham Craig, LaGrange
5-11, 185 | Junior | Quarterback | Accounting
Hoover, Ala./Spain Park H.S.
Division III leader in passing yards (3,571), third in passing touchdowns (32) and sixth in completions/game (28.3)…member of Georgia Society of CPA’s and Sigma Alpha Pi (Leadership Honor Society)…volunteers with the American Red Cross Blood Drive and the Boy’s and Girl’s Club.
- Austin Damaschke, Concordia (Wis.)
6-0, 191 | Junior | Quarterback | Biomedical Science
Bristol, Wis./Westosha Central H.S.
10th in Division III in points responsible for (204) and 11th in passing yards (2,846)…set two conference career records and eight school records in 2013…volunteers with various team fundraisers, at church and with local blood drives.
- McCallum Foote, Middlebury
6-4, 201 | Senior | Quarterback | Economics
Newton, Mass./Noble and Greenough School
Division III leader in completions/game (32.4) and second in
passing yards/game (345.8)…Capital One Academic
All-American…volunteers with Special Olympics and served on
leadership team for “Team Impact Program”…also
served as a teacher’s assistant in Spain.
- Cole Klotz, UW-Whitewater
6-4, 245 | Senior | Linebacker | Cell Physiology
Elm Grove, Wis./New Berlin Eisenhower
Leading tackler (70) on defense that finished the regular season second in Division III in scoring defense (8.0 ppg.) and seventh against the run (75.4 ypg.)…2013 WIAC Player of the Year…volunteer engagement includes WIAC Food Drive, local meal program and food pantry.
- Kyle Linville, Franklin
6-1, 185 | Senior | Wide Receiver | Quantitative Analysis/Economics
Speedway, Ind./Speedway H.S.
Fourth in Division III in receiving touchdowns (13), seventh in receiving yards (1,155) and eighth in receptions/game (8.3)…two-time Academic All-Region…holds every school receiving record…volunteers with underprivileged youth, the Special Olympics and coordinated a dance marathon for cancer research.
- Octavias McKoy, Western Connecticut
5-10, 191 | Senior | Running Back | Professional Writing
Stratford, Conn./Stratford H.S.
Division III leader in scoring (17.3 ppg.) and rushing touchdowns (26)…second in all-purpose yardage (206.4 ypg.) and rushing yards (1,715)…set a then-NCAA All-Divisions record with 455 rushing yards Oct. 26…volunteer engagement includes local bone marrow registry drive and road race to benefit the Newtown (Conn.) Police Union.
- Adham Talaat, Gallaudet
6-6, 275 | Senior | Defensive End | Physical Education
Springfield, Va./West Springfield H.S.
Helped lead Gallaudet, the nation’s deaf and hard-of-hearing university to program’s first ECFC title and playoff appearance…team is 12th in Division III in total defense (260.5 ypg.)…two-time Academic All-Region…volunteers with freshmen move-in day, construction and maintenance of on-campus garden and Relay for Life.
- Keith Welch, Jr.; Lewis and Clark
6-0, 190 | Senior | Quarterback | Rhetoric and Media Studies
Vallejo, Calif./Fairfield H.S.
Fourth in Division III in points responsible for/game (23.1), fifth in total offense/game (347.6), seventh in passing yards/game (304.0) and eighth in passing touchdowns (28)…volunteers with freshmen move-in day, peer mentorship and as a local care provider/counselor.
- Erik Westerberg, Augustana
6-3, 215 | Senior | Linebacker | Mathematics/Secondary Education
Elmhurst, Ill./York H.S.
19th in Division III in solo tackles/game (6.8)…two-time Academic All-American…member of Pi Mu Epsilon, a math honor society…volunteers with Athletes Giving Back, Habitat for Humanity and Relay For Life…organized an event where students with disabilities met players and played a simulated game with current team.