Sealey Named Finalist for Prestigious Gene Upshaw Division II Lineman of the Year Award
Courtesy of Valdosta State Sports Information
VALDOSTA, Ga. – Valdosta State senior offensive lineman Adonis Sealey was named one of eight finalists for the 2019 Gene Upshaw Division II Lineman of the Year Award, announced Friday by the Manheim Touchdown Club.
A total of 35 candidates were nominated this season for the award and the Division II Sports Information Directors narrowed the field to eight as two finalists from each of the four NCAA Division II super regions advance to the national ballot. All nominees much be seniors.
The eight finalists include four offensive linemen and four defensive linemen as this is the second-straight year VSU has had a finalist. Last season, former Blazer center Jeremy King was the national runner-up for the award as Angelo State defensive lineman Markus Jones took home the honor in 2018.
The national round of voting begins on Monday, Nov. 25 and closes on Sunday, Dec. 1. The winner will be announced on Wednesday, Dec. 4. The award recipient has an invitation to participate in front of professional scouts and coaches at the East-West Shrine Game in St. Petersburg, Fla. The winner also will be recognized at the Manheim Touchdown Club's annual banquet in May.
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, 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 lineman 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.
Sealey, a native of Hamer, S.C., has started 24 games on the offensive line in two years for the Blazers, helping the team to a Gulf South Conference and school-record 25-game winning streak. Sealey anchors an offensive line that is fourth national in total offense at 523.2 yards per game and has the league's leading rusher in sophomore Jamar Thompkins. Sealey has earned GSC First Team All-Conference honors in both of his years in Titletown and earned multiple All-America honors last season. He is a member of the GSC Academic Honor Roll and earned CoSIDA Academic All-District honors this season. Sealey also is member of the Valdosta State Student-Athlete Advisory Committee.
The Blazers and Sealey are the top-seeded team in Super Region Two and will host the winner of the No. 16 Wingate vs. No. 20 West Florida game Saturday, Nov. 30 at 1 p.m. at Bazemore-Hyder Stadium.
Tickets for the playoff game are on sale now at the VSU Athletic Ticket Office in The Complex. Call 229-333-SEAT for more information on tickets or purchase online by
clicking here.