Thursday, December 3, 2015

PORTLAND, Ore. – Humboldt State sophomore running back Ja’Quan Gardner is one of eight finalists for the 2015 Harlon Hill Award, honoring the NCAA Division II Football Player of the Year.

Gardner, the GNAC Offensive Player of the Year and a First Team D2CCA All-Super Region 3 selection, is the third GNAC player to be named a finalist for the award. The winner will be announced via a webcast on Fri., Dec. 18.

The Ceres, Calif., native set a GNAC single season record with 2,266 rushing yards, a total which currently leads NCAA Division II. He also leads the nation with 25 rushing touchdowns and 188.8 rushing yards per game and is second in the nation with an average of 197.9 all-purpose yards per game. Gardner rushed for 200 or more yards in five games, topped by a 305-yard performance against Azusa Pacific on Oct. 10.

Gardner led Humboldt State to a 10-2 record, their first GNAC championship since 2009 and their first postseason appearance since 1968. The Lumberjacks won their opening round playoff game over Augustana (S.D.), 45-31, before bowing out in the second round, 54-7, to No. 1 ranked Northwest Missouri State.

Gardner is the GNAC’s first Harlon Hill finalist since Central Washington’s Mike Reilly finished third in award voting in 2008. Western Washington’s Scott Mitchell was a finalist in the league’s first year of competition. He finished seventh that season the balloting.

The other seven finalist for the award are Matt Soltes of East Stroudsburg, Jeff Ziemna of Shepherd, Damian Baker of Carson-Newman, Luke Wingo of North Alabama, Brent Wilson of Emporia State, Cameron McDondle of CSU-Pueblo and Jason Vander Laan of Ferris State. Vander Laan won the Harlon Hill Award in 2014.

Awarded since 1986 and named for the All-American performer from the University of North Alabama, the Harlon Hill Award is awarded annually to the NCAA Division II Football Player of the Year. The award, selected and voted upon by Division II sports information directors from across the nation, is sponsored by the City of Florence, Ala., Opti-Net, Herff Jones and the Marriott Shoals Hotel & Spa.