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Thirteen seniors, one junior and one graduate student make up the semifinalists for the 2022 Gagliardi Trophy, an award presented by Jostens and the J-Club of Saint John's University to the most outstanding football player in NCAA Division III. The semifinalist list also contains nominees from all six NCAA regions. Multiple positions are represented with six quarterbacks, four running backs, two wide receivers, two defensive linemen and one offensive lineman.
D3football.com will reveal the finalists on a live streaming broadcast on the afternoon of Wednesday, Dec. 7.
Thirteen of the 15 semifinalists participated in the first round of the Division III playoffs.
After screening the schools' nominations, the SJU J-Club Board of Directors narrowed the field to 15 semifinalists.
The 40-member Gagliardi Trophy national selection committee reviews the credentials, ranks the candidates 1-15 and casts their votes. Fan balloting, which is available on D3football.com, accounts for the 41st ballot, and is being conducted on D3football.com for the 12th consecutive season. Fans will be permitted to cast one ballot per device, through 1 p.m. ET on Dec. 3.
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.
In its message to the voting panel, the Gagliardi Trophy administration reminds voters: "The Gagliardi Trophy is a football award but incorporates the philosophy of the well-rounded student-athlete."
Depending on the year, between 10 and 15 semifinalists have been sent to the voters in the past.
Nominations were submitted by colleges across the country, and the semifinalists were selected by the J-Club Board of Directors. 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), twelve regional notable voters (two from each region), and eight national voters with Division III backgrounds. A fan vote, which runs until Dec. 3, will be live soon on D3football.com.
The semifinalists:
Will Bowers, Wheaton (Ill.)
QB | 6-2, 194 | Graduate Student| Master’s Program in Global Leadership
Ethan Greenfield, North Central (Ill.)
RB | 5-9, 213 | Senior | Sports Management
Kyle King, Mary Hardin-Baylor
QB/P | 6-3, 220 | Senior | Exercise and Sport Science
Evan Lewandowski, UW-Whitewater
QB | 6-4, 194 | Senior |Human Performance
Jon Lewis, Birmingham-Southern
RB | 5-10, 194 |Sophomore | Business
Phil Lutz, Tufts
WR | 6-0, 180| Senior | History
Jon Murray Jr., Baldwin Wallace
RB | 6-1, 195 | Senior | Psychology
Michael Nobile, Delaware Valley
DE | 6-0, 250 | Senior | Business Administration
Nate Palmer, Utica
WR | 5-7 , 160 | Senior | Criminal Intelligence Analysis
Braxton Plunk, Mount Union
QB | 6-0, 180 | Senior | Marketing
Jaran Roste, Bethel
QB | 6-4, 220 | Senior | Social Studies Education
Joey Stutzman, UW-La Crosse
RB | 5-7, 190 | Senior | Physical Education
Boomer Warren, Hardin-Simmons
OL | 5-9, 260 | Senior | History
A.J. Wingfield, Ithaca
QB | 5-11, 180 | Senior | Business Administration
Michael Wozniak, Saint John’s
DL | 6-3, 255 | Senior | Accounting