Click here for a printer-friendly (PDF) version of this release
Release courtesy of Jeff Hodges, Chairman of the National Harlon Hill Award Committee
FLORENCE, Ala. -- A field of 22 candidates has
been trimmed to nine national finalists in regional voting for the
2011 Harlon Hill Trophy as the NCAA Division II College Football
Player of the Year.
The finalists were selected by the NCAA Division II sports
information directors in regional voting and will now be placed on
the national ballot where all 149 of the division's SIDs will
select the award's 26th winner. The top two players from each of
Division II's Super Regions advance to the national ballot, but
three players advanced from Region 2 due to a tie in the
voting.
The list of 2011 finalists is comprised of six quarterbacks and
three running backs.
Six of the finalists helped lead their teams into the NCAA Division
II playoffs this season and one of this weekend's second round
playoff matchups will have Hill finalists facing each other.
Advancing from Super Region 1 are senior quarterback Adam
Neugebauer of West Virginia Wesleyan and senior running back
Rashaad Slowley of Southern Connecticut State.
Super Region 2 is represented by senior quarterback Lee Chapple of
the University of North Alabama, senior quarterback Micah Davis of
Delta State (Miss.) University and senior running back Jonas
Randolph of Mars Hill (N.C.) College. Chapple and Davis will face
each other in this weekend's Super Region 2 second round playoff
game, while Randolph will lead his team against North Greenville in
the second round.
The top vote getters in Super Region 3 are Hillsdale (Mich.)
College junior running back Joe Glendening and
University of Nebraska-Kearney senior quarterback Jake
Spitzlberger.
Advancing from Super Region 4 are junior quarterback Brandon Kelsey
of Midwestern State (Texas) University and senior quarterback Dane
Simoneau of Washburn University.
National voting will conclude on December 2 and the top three
finishers will be invited to the Shoals for the presentation
banquet.
The winner of the 2011 award, which is presented by the National
Harlon Hill Award Committee, will be announced at the 26th annual
Harlon Hill Trophy Presentation Banquet on Friday, December 16 at
the Florence Conference Center
at 6:30 p.m. This year’s Hill Trophy Banquet will also
include the 13th induction into the Division II Football Hall of
Fame.
Tickets are $50 each or $400 for a table of eight and can be
purchased by calling the Shoals Chamber of Commerce at (256)
764-4661.
The NCAA Division II Championship Game is scheduled for December 17
at Florence’s Braly Municipal Stadium at 10 a.m.