LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — Three Gulf South Conference football student-athletes were among the 38 names across the nation nominated for the 2023 Harlon Hill Trophy, as the Division II College Football Player of the Year.
Representing the league was Delta State quarterback Patrick Shegog, Valdosta State quarterback Sammy Edwards and West Florida wide receiver John Jiles. The trio were among the eight nominations from the Super Region 2.
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Shegog, the GSC Offensive Player of the Year, finished the regular season accounting for 2,740 total yards of offense, third among GSC leaders, as he threw for 2,194 yards and added 546 yards on the ground. He also led the league in passing efficiency (162.6), interceptions thrown (2), and rushing touchdowns (11), while being among the GSC top-10 in passing touchdowns (T2nd/25), passing completion (3rd/.615), passing yards (4th), and rushing yards (9th).
Edwards finished the regular season as the conference-leader in passing yards (3,389), passing completion (.678) and passing yards per game (330.1). The gunslinger was also second among GSC quarterbacks in passing touchdowns (25). He completed 251-of-370 passes, while totaling 242 yards on the ground with five touchdowns on 69 carries.
Jiles, a First Team All-GSC selection, finished the regular season ranked second nationally in receiving yards (1,209), receiving yards per game (109.9) and receiving touchdowns (16). He pulled in six 100-yard receiving games with at least one touchdown reception in nine games, while averaging 119.2 receiving per game against D2 competition.
The sports information directors at the 161 NCAA Division II football-playing institutions nominate and vote on the award. The 38 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 Monday, November 27.
The winner of the 2024 award will be announced on Friday, December 15 and the winner will be honored at the Little Rock Touchdown Club awards banquet on Friday, January 12, 2024.
The sports information directors at their respective schools initially nominate candidates. The SIDs in those Super Regions vote for their top five candidates. The winner is then determined in a nation-wide vote of the Division II sports information directors.
The group of 38 candidates includes 17 quarterbacks, eight running backs, five defensive linemen, three linebackers, two defensive backs, two wide receivers and an offensive lineman.
The Hill Trophy is named for the late Harlon Hill - the former University of North Alabama standout - who excelled with the Lions from 1950-53 before going on to fame in the National Football League with the Chicago Bears.