SIAC places three on 2005 Harlon Hill Trophy Candidate List

October 31, 2005

FLORENCE - Ala. -- A total of 26 candidates are in the running for the 2005 Harlon Hill Trophy as the NCAA Division II College Football Player of the Year, including four players who were candidates last season.

The list of candidates was announced Sunday by the National Harlon Hill Award Committee.

The list includes six players each from the Southeast, Northeast and Northwest regions and eight from the Southwest region.

Players are nominated and voted on by the sports information directors at the 150 NCAA Division II football-playing institutions. The 26 initial candidates will be placed on regional ballots and the top two players from each of the four NCAA regions will advance to the national ballot when regional voting concludes on November 14.

The winner of the 2005 award, which is presented by the National Harlon Hill Award Committee, will be announced at the 20th annual Harlon Hill Trophy Presentation Banquet on Friday, December 9 at the Florence Conference Center at 6:30 p.m. This year's Hill Trophy Banquet will also include the seventh induction into the Division II Football Hall of Fame.

Tickets are $45 each or $360 for a table of eight and can be purchased by calling the Shoals Chamber of Commerce at (256) 764-4661.

The NCAA Division II Championship Game is scheduled for December 10 at Florence's Braly Municipal Stadium at 3 p.m.

The Hill Trophy is sponsored by Coca-Cola, the City of Florence, Ala., Trustmark Construction, TNT Fireworks and the Marriott Shoals Hotel and Spa.

There were 36 candidates initially nominated by the sports information directors at their respective schools and those nominations were then reviewed by the Hill Regional Advisory Committees, which trimmed the list of candidates.

Among the players vying for the 2005 award are Northeast region candidates, senior running back Antoine Bagwell of California (Pa.), senior quarterback Robert Blount of C.W. Post (N.Y.), sophomore running back Jamar Brittingham of Bloomsburg (Pa.), senior quarterback Joey Conrad of Glenville State (W.V.), senior running back Derrick Stickles of West Liberty (W.V.) and junior quarterback Jimmy Terwilliger of East Stroudsburg (Pa.).

Southeast region candidates include junior quarterback Scott Eyster of Delta State (Miss.), junior wide receiver Aaron Fairooz of Central Arkansas, junior quarterback Kevin Huff of Tuskegee (Ala.), junior wide receiver kick returner Anthony Merritt of North Alabama, senior running back J.D. Washington of Morehouse and senior defensive back Marcus Wright of Kentucky State.

Candidates from the Northwest region are senior linebacker Digger Anderson of North Dakota, senior running back Matt Birkel of St. Cloud State (Minn.), senior quarterback Wesley Beschorner of South Dakota, senior wide receiver Brian Hynes of Winona State (Minn.), senior quarterback Brian Masek of Nebraska-Omaha and senior quarterback James McNear of Concordia-St. Paul (Minn.).

Southwest region candidates are junior quarterback Dalton Bell of West Texas A&M, senior linebacker Deandrae Fillmore of Texas A&M-Kingsville, senior wide receiver Justin Gallas of the Colorado School of Mines, junior safety Danieal Manning of Abilene Christian (Texas), junior tailback Germaine Race of Pittsburg State (Kan.), senior running back Derrick Ross of Tarleton State (Texas), senior wide receiver Richard Ross of Nebraska-Kearney and sophomore tailback Danny Woodhead of Chadron State.

Bagwell, Terwilliger, Birkel and Woodhead were also candidates for the 2004 Hill Trophy.

North Dakota State quarterback Jeff Bentrim won the initial Hill Trophy in 1986, followed by three-time winner - Texas A&I (now Texas A&M-Kingsville) running back Johnny Bailey - in 1987, 1988 and 1989.

Another North Dakota State quarterback, Chris Simdorn, claimed the 1990 award, followed by Pittsburg State receiver Ronnie West in 1991, Pittsburg State running back Ronald Moore in 1992, New Haven running back Roger Graham in 1993, Valdosta State quarterback Chris Hatcher in 1994, North Alabama linebacker Ronald McKinnon in 1995, Truman State running back Jarrett Anderson in 1996, Bloomsburg University running back Irvin Sigler in 1997, Emporia State running back Brian Shay in 1998, Northern Colorado quarterback Corte McGuffey in 1999, Valdosta State quarterback Dusty Bonner in 2000 and 2001, Grand Valley State quarterback Curt Anes in 2002, North Alabama quarterback Will Hall in 2003 and Colorado School of Mines quarterback Chad Friehauf last season.

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