November 19, 2017 PREVIOUS AWARD WINNERS FINALISTS NAMED FOR GENE UPSHAW DIVISION II LINEMAN OF THE YEAR AWARD • 2016 - Jordan Morgan, Kutztown • 2015 - Matt Judon, Grand Valley State MANHEIM, Pa. – Regional voting narrowed a field of 44 candidates to eight finalists for the • 2014 - Darius Allen, Colorado State-Pueblo 2017 Gene Upshaw Division II Lineman of the Year Award. The finalists six offensive linemen • 2013 - Darius Allen, Colorado State-Pueblo • 2012 - Garth Heikkinen, Minnesota-Duluth and four defensive linemen. Five of the eight finalists play for teams that reached the NCAA • 2011 - Joe Long, Wayne State Division II Playoffs, which began on Nov. 18. • 2010 - Brandon Fusco, Slippery Rock • 2009 - Ben Staggs, West Liberty The award is presented by the Manheim Touchdown Club and voted upon by the nation’s • 2008 - Sam Collins, Abilene Christian NCAA Division II sports information directors. Two finalists advance from each of the four • 2007 - Brandon Barnes, Grand Valley State NCAA Division II super regions. • 2006 - Mike McFadden, Grand Valley State • 2005 - Mike McFadden, Grand Valley State Representing Super Region 1 for the second year in a row is Slippery Rock defensive end Mar- • 2004 - Nathan Baker, Pittsburg State cus Martin, giving The Rock a national finalist for the fourth season in a row. Joining Martin SUPER REGION CHAIRS from Super Region 1 is Shepherd offensive tackle Lavonte Hights. Super Region 2 finalists Super Region 1: Doug Spatafor (Lock Haven) include West Georgia center Harley Vaughan, which gives West Georgia a finalist in three con- E-Mail: [email protected] secutive seasons. He is joined by Bowie State left tackle Victor Tamba Jr. Advancing from Super Super Region 2: Dom Donnelly (Tusculum) Region 3 are Central Missouri left guard Chris Gomez and Ferris State center Jake Daugherty. E-Mail: [email protected] Super Region 4 is represented by offensive lineman Alex Cappa of Humbolt State and defensive Super Region 3: Dan Genzler (Sioux Falls) end Evan Perrizo of Minnesota State. Minnesota State, the current No. 1-ranked team in Divi- E-Mail: [email protected] sion II according to the AFCA, has had a national finalist in four of the last five seasons. Super Region 4: Brian Kortz (Western New Mexico) (Bios on each player on page 2) E-Mail: [email protected] Perrizo’s Minnesota State team was the No. 1 seed in Super Region 4. Daugherty and Ferris NATIONAL CHAIRMAN State, Vaughan’s West Georgia team were both victorious in their opening round games. Hight’s Ethan Hulsey (Millersville) Shepherd team was the No. 2 seed in Super Region 1, and Tamba Jr.’s Bowie State team entered E-Mail: [email protected] the playoffs ast he No. 4 seed in Super Region 2. The national round of voting begins on Monday, Nov. 20 and closes on Monday Nov. 27. The win- DATES TO REMEMBER Monday, Nov. 20, 8 a.m. EST ner will be announced on Wednesday, Nov. 29. The award recipient has an invitation to participate National ballot available for voting online at in front of professional scouts and coaches at the East-West Shrine Game in St. Petersburg, Fla. www.manheimtouchdownclub.com. The winner will also be recognized at the Manheim Touchdown Club’s annual banquet in May. Monday, Nov. 27, 6 p.m. EST National voting closes. The NFL recognizes, endorses and supports the winner of the award by guaranteeing a place in the all-star games. The support comes as recognition and appreciation for the late Mr. Upshaw, Wednesday, Nov. 29 who was not only an All-Pro lineman for the Oakland Raiders, but later served as the executive Announcement of Gene Upshaw Award winner director of the NFL Players Association for 25 years. Upshaw, a former standout offensive line- Saturday, Jan. 20 man at Texas A&I University (now Texas A&M Kingsville), was inducted into the Pro Football East-West Shrine Game Hall of Fame in 1987 in his first year of eligibility. MARCUS MARTIN LAVONTE HIGHTS VICTOR TAMA JR. HARLEY VAUGHAN CHRIS GOMEZ JAKE DAUGHERTY ALEX CAPPA EVAN PERRIZO Slippery Rock Shepherd Bowie State West Georgia Central Missouri Ferris State Humbolt State Minnesota State Defensive End Offensive Tackle Left Tackle Center Left Guard Center Offensive Lineman Defensive End FINALIST INFORMATION Marcus Martin (Slippery Rock, DE, West Mifflin, Pa.) The all-time NCAA leader in sacks and tackles for loss regardless of division, Martin piled up 56 sacks and 92 1/2 tackles for loss in his four- year career at Slippery Rock. He led Division II in sacks (15 1/2) and tackles for loss (26 1/2) again in 2017 as he won his third consecutive PSAC West Defensive Player of the Year Award. Martin is a four-time All-PSAC West First Team pick and three-time Super Region 1 Play- er of the year, including rookie of the year in 2014. A consensus All-America selection two times, Martin is a finalist for the Gene Upshaw Award for the second season in a row as well as being a three-time finalist for the Cliff Harris Award and a finalist for the William V. Camp- bell Trophy in 2017. Lavonte Hights (Shepherd, OL, North Chesterfield, Va.) A three-time All-MEC First Team selection and All-American in 2016, Hights started every game of his career, helping Shepherd to three consecutive MEC titles, two Super Region 1 titles and a national runner-up finish in 2016. Hights helped Shepherd to a 10-1 record in 2016, anchoring an offensive line that ranked fourth nationally in total offense and sixth in scoring offense. Victor Tamba Jr. (Bowie State, LT, District Heights, Md.) A four-time All-CIAA selection, Tamba helped Bowie State to a 10-1 record and a No. 14 national ranking while anchoring the left side of the offensive line for one of the most potent offenses in the country. Bowie State led Division II in scoring at 54.5 points per game and ranked second in first downs and fourth in passing offense. Harley Vaughan (West Georgia, Center, Dawsonville, Ga.) Vaughan is already a two-time All-America selection with a school record 51 career starts to his credit. He helped his West Georgia team average 438 yards of offense to go with a 9-3 record and a NCAA playoff appearance in 2017. Chris Gomez (Central Missouri, LG, Warrensburg, Mo.) Gomez is a three-time All-MIAA selection including a first team honor in 2017. This season, Gomez’s offense ranked second in the nation in total offense, and he protected the quarterback who led Division II in passing yards and total offense. His unit set school records for total yards, piling up more than 700 yards of offense on two occasions. Jake Daugherty (Ferris State, Center, Big Rapids, Mich.) A two-time All-America honoree and four-time All-GLIAC selection, Daugherty has helped Ferris State to four consecutive NCAA playoff appearancesand a pair of conference championships. Daugherty was a super region nominee for the Gene Upshaw Award in 2016 and is a first time national finalist. Daugherty helped his team to a 10-1 record in 2017 while ranking 12th in Division II in rushing offense. Alex Cappa (Humbolt State, OL, Dublin, Calif.) Cappa set a GNAC record by winning his fourth consecutive GNCA Offensive Lineman of the Year Award. He is a four-time All-GNAC First Team selection and a two-time All-American, including a first team selection by the AFCA in 2016. In 2017, Cappa paved the way for the GNAC’s No. 1 offense in total offense and scoring as well as the league’s leading rusher. His team ranked 10th in Division II in total offense and sixth in scoring offense. Evan Perrizo (Minnesota State, DE, Eden Prairie, Minn.) Perrizo helped Minnesota State to a No. 1 ranking and a 12-0 record in 2017. He’s been a part of three conference championships and three NCAA playoff appearances. Perizzo led his team with 11 sacks and 17 1/2 tackles for loss. He has totaled 26 career sacks and 43 career tackles for loss. Perrizo was named All-Super Region 3 First Team in 2016 and is a two-time All-NSIC First Team pick. CONTACT Don Harris, Manheim Touchdown Club ([email protected] – 717-940-1786) Ethan Hulsey, Gene Upshaw Award National Coordinator ([email protected] – 717-871-4154).