GRAND VALLEY STATE’S MATT JUDON WINS 2015 GENE UPSHAW DIVISION II LINEMAN OF THE YEAR AWARD December 2, 2015 Contact: Ethan Hulsey (
[email protected]) MANHEIM, Pa. – Grand Valley State senior defensive end Matt Judon has been named the recipient of the Gene Upshaw Division II Lineman of the Year Award presented by the Manheim Touchdown Club, projected coordinator Don Harris announced on Wednesday. The Upshaw Award is presented annually to the top NCAA Division II junior or senior offensive or defensive lineman in the nation. Sports information directors from the football-playing Division II institutions comprise the voters. As a recipient of the Gene Upshaw Award, Judon receives a trophy in the likeness of Upshaw and recognition at the Manheim Touchdown Club’s annual banquet in May. The winner of the award receives an automatic invitation to par- ticipate in the East/West Shrine Game. Judon, also voted the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) Defensive Player of the Year, leads the nation, regardless of division, in sacks with 20. Judon is just a half-sack away from the single-season Division II record and has the sixth-most sacks in the history of college football. His 23.5 tackles for loss totaling 134 yards are fourth- most in Division II. Judon has piled up 70 tackles, three passes defended, three forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and eight quarterback hurries. Judon recently tied 2013-14 Gene Upshaw Award winner Darius Allen for eighth in Divi- sion II history in career sacks with 34.0. He also set a new school record for sacks, passing current Jacksonville Jaguar linebacker Dan Skuta.