Senior wide receiver Garry Brown has been named as a Harlon Hill Trophy finalist.
FLORENCE, Ala. – A field of 43 initial nominees has been trimmed to nine national finalists in regional voting for the 2016 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 171 of the division's SIDs will select the award's 31st winner. The top two players from three super regions advanced to the national ballot, and three advanced from Super Region 4 due to a tie in the voting.
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The list of 2016 finalists is comprised of six quarterbacks, two running backs and one receiver. Seven of the finalists helped lead their teams into the 2016 NCAA Division II playoffs and five are on team's competing in this weekend's quarterfinal matchups.
Advancing from Super Region 1 are senior receiver Garry Brown of California University (Pa.) and senior quarterback Jeff Ziemba of Shepherd University (W.V.).
Super Region 2 is represented by senior quarterback Jacob Tucker of the University of North Alabama and senior quarterback Raleigh Yeldell of Newberry College.
The top vote getters in Super Region 3 are senior quarterback Trey Heid of Augustana University (S.D.) and senior quarterback Kyle Zimmerman of Northwest Missouri State University.
Advancing from Super Region 4 are sophomore running back Marty Carter of Grand Valley State University (Mich.), senior quarterback Justin Dvorak of Colorado School of Mines and senior running back Austin Ekeler of Western State Colorado University.
DII Football Championship Bracket
National voting will conclude on December 10 and the winner of the 2016 award, which is presented by the National Harlon Hill Award Committee, will be announced on Friday, December 16. The winner will be honored at a luncheon on the University of North Alabama campus on January 6, 2017.
For more information, read the full release.
