Contact: Clark Teuscher, Sports Information Director, 630-637-5302
Nov. 21, 2023 - North Central College junior quarterback Luke Lehnen has been selected as one of 20 semifinalists for the Gagliardi Trophy, the premier individual award in NCAA Division III Football. Stearns Bank and the J-Club of Saint John's University (Minnesota), which present the Gagliardi Trophy, announced the semifinalists for the 30th annual award on Tuesday.
Lehnen, who was named the College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) Art Keller Offensive Student-Athlete of the Year last week, is a three-time All-CCIW honoree and a two-time First Team selection. Lehnen is the current active career leader in passing efficiency (210.54) in all divisions of college football and ranks first among Division III quarterbacks this season in passing efficiency (278.5), completion percentage (76.0), yards per completion (20.44) and yards per pass (15.54) while ranking eighth in touchdown passes (37).
Lehnen is on pace to surpass the existing Division III all-time record for single-season passing efficiency (230.4), set in 2019 by University of Mount Union (Ohio) quarterback De'Angelo Fulford. Lehnen is also North Central's all-time leading rusher among quarterbacks, having gained 2,032 yards and scored 33 touchdowns on the ground in his career.
An exercise science major set to graduate in December, Lehnen is North Central's sixth consecutive Gagliardi Trophy semifinalist. Quarterback Broc Rutter was the Cardinals' first Gagliardi Trophy winner in 2019 and running back Ethan Greenfield received the award in 2022. North Central is one of just four institutions (joining Mount Union, Saint John's and Wesley University) with multiple Gagliardi Trophy honorees.
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. 2, will be live soon on D3football.com.
Other semifinalists are University of Wisconsin-River Falls quarterback Kaleb Blaha, University of Wisconsin-Platteville defensive end Justin Blazek, Belhaven University (Mississippi) running back Kolbe Blunt, Cortland State University (New York) quarterback Zac Boyes, Gustavus Adolphus College (Minnesota) wide receiver Jake Breitbach, Berry College (Georgia) running back Brandon Cade, Randolph-Macon College (Virginia) quarterback Drew Campanale, Illinois College quarterback Destin Chance, Carnegie Mellon University (Pennsylvania) linebacker Robert Coury, Wartburg College (Iowa) linebacker Owen Grover, University of Wisconsin-Whitewater defensive back Egon Hein, University of Wisconsin-La Crosse quarterback Keyser Helterbrand, Trinity University (Texas) quarterback Tucker Horn, Middlebury College (Vermont) defensive lineman Tomas Kenary, Mount Union quarterback Braxton Plunk, Johns Hopkins University (Maryland) defensive lineman Luke Schuermann, Saint John's quarterback Aaron Syverson, Mount St. Joseph University (Ohio) quarterback Josh Taylor and Wheaton College running back Giovanni Weeks.
The Gagliardi Trophy finalists will be announced during a live show on Thursday, Dec. 7, on D3football.com.The 2023 Gagliardi Trophy winner will be revealed on D3football.com during the week of the NCAA Division III football national championship on Friday, Dec. 15.
No. 1-ranked North Central (11-0) hosts No. 4/6 Trinity University (Texas) in the second round of the Division III Football Championship on Saturday. Kickoff at Benedetti-Wehrli Stadium is scheduled for 12:00 noon. Click HERE for links to live coverage.
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