Contact: Nicholas Osterloo, Director of Athletics Communication, 630-637-5324
Gagliardi Trophy Press Release
2025 Gagliardi Trophy Fan Vote
COLLEGEVILLE, Minn. (Dec. 5, 2025) - For the eighth straight season, a North Central College football student-athlete has been named a semifinalist for The Gagliardi Trophy, presented by Stearns Bank, as
Thomas Skokna is the Cardinals' nominee following a season in which the wideout led NCAA Division III in touchdown receptions.
The Gagliardi Trophy, given annually since 1993, is awarded to the most outstanding NCAA Division III football player and recognizes excellence in athletics, academics and community service. The award is named after John Gagliardi, Saint John's University's legendary Hall of Fame head football coach, who passed away at 91 in 2018. John retired in 2012 with 489 career victories, the most in college football history.
Skokna is one of 15 semifinalists up for the award, joining fellow wide receivers Robby Ballentine (DePauw University), Gary Lewis (Franklin & Marshall College) and Albert Rundell (Bethel University). Nine quarterbacks made the list - Connor Barry (Christopher Newport University), Kaleb Blaha (UW-River Falls), Kyle Brown (Hardin-Simmons University), Jack Curtis (Carleton College), Josh Ehrlich (Susquehanna University), Mark Forcucci (Wheaton College), Bay Harvey (Johns Hopkins University), Nick Semptimphelter (John Carroll University) and Tyler Szalkowski (Utica College) along with two running backs - Diamontie Quinn (Curry College) and Eddie Williams (Alma College).
Skokna, the College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin's (CCIW) Offensive Player of the Year, racked up 22 touchdown catches on 64 receptions for 1,040 yards so far this season. The senior also added a touchdown on a punt return against Elmhurst University. Skokna ranks sixth in Division III for scoring with just over two touchdowns per game (12.5 points per contest) and is 22nd in Division III for receiving yards.
In the Cardinals' 59-10 victory over Millikin University, Skokna caught a program record five touchdowns. His 206 receiving yards rank as the fifth-most in North Central history for a single game.
On top of Skokna's success on the field, he has volunteered with Missionaries of Charity Sisters, Feed My Starving Children, Northern Illinois Food Bank, St. Isaac Jogues Seeds for Service Food Drive, Hinsdale Central Youth Football Camp and the Skokna Strength Youth Speed Camp. Academically, Skokna has supplemented his academic work in the College's marketing curriculum by gaining real-world experience at both Talent.Inc. and Twin Supplies.
North Central has won four of the past five Gagliardi Trophies. Last year, quarterback Luke Lehnen became the second player to earn the award in back-to-back seasons, while running back Ethan Greenfield won in 2022 and quarterback Broc Rutter won in 2019.
The Gagliardi Trophy national-selection committee is composed of 18 Division III coaches (three from each NCAA Region), six Division III administrators (one from each region), 12 regional notable voters (two from each region) and six national voters with Division III backgrounds. A fan vote, which runs until Dec. 15, will be live soon on D3football.com. No J-Club members vote as part of the national selection committee.
The Gagliardi Trophy finalists will be announced during a live show at 4 p.m. ET on Thursday, Dec. 18, on D3football.com, where host Pat Coleman will profile the finalists during the program. The 2025 Gagliardi Trophy winner will be revealed on D3football.com during the week of the NCAA Division III football national championship game in January.
