Monday, November 20, 2017

MANHEIM, Pa. – The four-time GNAC Offensive Lineman of the Year is among eight players to advance to the national ballot for the 2017 Gene Upshaw Division II Lineman of the Year award.

Humboldt State senior offensive lineman Alex Cappa is one of two finalists to emerge out of voting from Super Region 4. The announcement of the national winner will take place on Wed., Nov. 29.

Cappa became the first player in GNAC football history to sweep one of the league’s special awards all four years and also became one of just seven four-time First Team All-GNAC selections. The senior led a Humboldt State offensive line that allowed the Lumberjacks to finish with an average of 488.3 yards of total offense per game, 10th in Division II, and sixth in Division II with 45.1 points per game. The offensive line allowed just 22 sacks all season.

Presented by the Manheim Touchdown Club, the Upshaw Award is voted upon by Division II sports information directors nationwide. The award recipient has an invitation to participate at the East-West Shrine Game on Sat., Jan. 20, in St. Petersburg, Florida, and will also be honored at the Manheim Touchdown Club’s annual banquet in May.

The award is named for Gene Upshaw, a standout lineman for Tecas A&I University (now Texas A&M-Kingsville) who went on to become an All-Pro lineman for the Oakland Raiders and served for 25 years as the executive director of the NFL Players Association.