November 19, 2018 PREVIOUS AWARD WINNERS FINALISTS NAMED FOR GENE UPSHAW DIVISION II LINEMAN OF THE YEAR AWARD • 2017 - Marcus Martin, Slippery Rock • 2016 - Jordan Morgan, Kutztown MANHEIM, Pa. – Regional voting narrowed a field of 46 candidates to eight finalists for the • 2015 - Matt Judon, Grand Valley State 2018 Gene Upshaw Division II Lineman of the Year Award. The finalists include four offensive • 2014 - Darius Allen, Colorado State-Pueblo • 2013 - Darius Allen, Colorado State-Pueblo linemen and four defensive linemen. • 2012 - Garth Heikkinen, Minnesota-Duluth • 2011 - Joe Long, Wayne State The award is presented by the Manheim Touchdown Club and voted on by the nation’s NCAA • 2010 - Brandon Fusco, Slippery Rock Division II sports information directors. Two finalists advance from each of the four NCAA • 2009 - Ben Staggs, West Liberty Division II super regions. • 2008 - Sam Collins, Abilene Christian • 2007 - Brandon Barnes, Grand Valley State Representing Super Region 1 is West Chester offensive lineman Tyler Drob and Notre Dame • 2006 - Mike McFadden, Grand Valley State College offensive lineman Austin Treneff. Super Region 2 finalists are Florida Tech defensive • 2005 - Mike McFadden, Grand Valley State lineman Adonis Davis and Valdosta State offensive lineman Jeremy King. Advancing from • 2004 - Nathan Baker, Pittsburg State Super Region 3 are Southern Arkansas defensive end DaVondrick Lison and Ashland defensive SUPER REGION CHAIRS end James Prater Jr. Super Region 4 is represented by defensive end Markus Jones of Angelo Super Region 1: Doug Spatafore (Lock Haven) State and offensive tackle Trey Pipkins of Sioux Falls. (Bios on each player on page 2) E-Mail: [email protected] Super Region 2: Dom Donnelly (Tusculum) Four of the eight finalists play for teams that reached the NCAA Division II Playoffs, which E-Mail: [email protected] began on Nov. 17. Drob’s West Chester team won the PSAC Championship and entered the Super Region 3: Don Vieth (Northeastern State) NCAA Division II Playoffs as the No. 3 seed in Super Region 1. Treneff’s Falcons posted an E-Mail: [email protected] 11-0 regular season record and earned the super region’s No. 1 seed. Davis helped Florida Tech to an 8-3 regular season record and the No. 6 seed in Super Region 2. King’s Valdosta State team Super Region 4: Brian Kortz (Fort Lewis) E-Mail: [email protected] is undefeated and the No. 1 seed in the super region. NATIONAL CHAIRMAN The national round of voting begins on Monday, Nov. 19 and closes on Monday, Nov. 26. The win- Ethan Hulsey (Millersville) ner will be announced on Wednesday, Nov. 28. The award recipient has an invitation to participate E-Mail: [email protected] in front of professional scouts and coaches at the East-West Shrine Game in St. Petersburg, Fla. DATES TO REMEMBER The winner will also be recognized at the Manheim Touchdown Club’s annual banquet in May. Monday, Nov. 19, 12 p.m. EST National ballot available for voting online The NFL recognizes, endorses and supports the winner of the award by guaranteeing a place in Monday, Nov. 26, 6 p.m. EST the all-star games. The support comes as recognition and appreciation for the late Mr. Upshaw, National voting closes. who was not only an All-Pro lineman for the Oakland Raiders, but later served as the executive director of the NFL Players Association for 25 years. Upshaw, a former standout offensive line- Wednesday, Nov. 28 Announcement of Gene Upshaw Award winner man at Texas A&I University (now Texas A&M Kingsville), was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1987 in his first year of eligibility. Saturday, Jan. 19 East-West Shrine Game
TYLER DROB AUSTIN TRENEFF ADONIS DAVIS JEREMY KING DaVONDRICK LISON JAMES PRATER JR. MARKUS JONES TREY PIPKINS West Chester Notre Dame College Florida Tech Valdosta State Southern Arkansas Ashland Angelo State Sioux Falls Offensive Line Offensive Lineman Defensive Lineman Offensive Lineman Defensive End Defensive End Defensive End Offensive Tackle FINALIST INFORMATION Tyler Drob (West Chester, OL, Cherry Hill, N.J.) An ACL injury cost Drob his entire 2017 season, but he bounced back in 2018 by helping West Chester to a PSAC Championship, undefeated regular season and a berth into the NCAA playoffs. Drob was named All-PSAC East First Team for the second time in his career after not -al lowing a sack the entire regular season and paving the way to the PSAC’s top-ranked rushing offense.
Austin Treneff (Notre Dame College, OL, Columbus, Ohio) A veteran of 44 career games played, Treneff was the lone senior for an offensive line that blocked for the nation’s seventh-best rushing attack. Treneff helped Notre Dame College to an 11-0 record, the Mountain East Championship and a No. 1 seed in the NCAA playoffs. His offensive line has surrendered just nine sacks--a total that is 12th-best in Division II. He was an All-Mountain East Second Team pick and a CoSIDA Academic All-District member.
Adonis Davis (Florida Tech, DE, Columbus, Ohio) A three-time All-Gulf South Conference First Team pick and 2017 All-American by four seperate organizations, Davis set Florida Tech records for career sacks (22), career tackles for loss (52.0) and single-season sacks and career sacks. In 2018, Davis led the GSC in tackles for loss with 16 and in sacks with 7. He also forced three fumbles which tied for first in the conference.
Jeremy King (Valdosta State, OL, Macon, Ga.) With 44 career starts, King anchors a Valdosta State team that went 10-0, won the Gulf South Conference and earned the No. 1 seed in Super Region 2. King was named All-GSC First Team in 2018, blocking for the GSC Offensive Player of the Year and an offense that ranks fourth in Division II in total offense at 536.3 yards per game. Coaches graded his performance at 93 percent with 33 knockdown blocks.
DaVondrick Lison (Southern Arkansas, DE, Arkansas City, Ark.) A 2017 All-American and Great American Conference Defensive Player of the Year, Lison entered the 2018 campaign as a D2football.com Preseason All-American. Lison was named All-GAC First Team after totaling 6 1/2 sacks, 18 tackles for loss, broke up three passes, forced two fumbles, recorded a safety and had a 57-yard fumble return for a touchdown. Lison is the NCAA’s career active leader in forced fumbles and has totaled 25 sacks in his career.
James Prater Jr. (Ashland, DE, Columbus, Ohio) The 2018 Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Defensive Lineman of the Year and All-GLIAC First Team pick, Prater totaled 9 1/2 sacks, 15 tackles for loss and ranked second on the team with 65 tackles. Prater set Ashland’s career record for tackles for loss with 46. He led the nation’s fifth-ranked defense, which allowed just 239.4 yards per game. Prater was a preseason All-American after totaling 10 sacks and 23 1/2 TFL in 2017.
Markus Jones (Angelo State, DE, Fort Worth, Texas) A two-time Lone Star Conference Defensive Player and Defensive Lineman of the Year, Jones leads all of Division II in tackles for loss with 34 and ranks second in sacks with 15. He also tallied 13 quarterback hurries, forced three fumbles and totaled 73 tackles. He owns the single- season and career sacks record at Angelo State
Trey Pipkins (Sioux Falls, OT, Apple Valley, Minn.) A three-time All-Nothern Sun Intercollegiate Conference selection, Pipkins graded out to 92.4 percent with more than 90 knockdown blocks and one sack allowed in 2018. A starter of 43 games, Pipkins led the nation’s No. 9-ranked and the NSCI’s No. 1-ranked rushing attack, block- ing for the conference’s offensive player of the year, who rushed for 1,957 yards. Pipkins was named to the Senior Bowl watchlist, was a 2018 preseason All-American and is a two-time Academic All-NSIC honoree.
CONTACT Don Harris, Manheim Touchdown Club ([email protected] – 717-940-1786) Ethan Hulsey, Gene Upshaw Award National Coordinator ([email protected] – 717-871-4154)