Mars Hill’s Randolph Named Finalist for Harlon Hill Trophy

FLORENCE, Ala. - A field of 22 candidates has been trimmed to nine national finalists in regional voting for the 2011 Harlon Hill Trophy as the NCAA Division II College Football Player of the Year. Included in the final nine is Mars Hill tailback Jonas Randolph.

The finalists were selected by the NCAA Division II sports information directors in regional voting and will now be placed on the national ballot where all 149 of the division's SIDs will select the award's 26th winner. The top two players from each of Division II's Super Regions advance to the national ballot, but three players advanced from Region 2 due to a tie in the voting.

The list of 2011 finalists is comprised of six quarterbacks and three running backs.

Six of the finalists helped lead their teams into the NCAA Division II playoffs this season and one of this weekend's second round playoff matchups will have Hill finalists facing each other. Super Region 2 is represented by Randolph, senior quarterback Lee Chapple of the University of North Alabama and senior quarterback Micah Davis of Delta State (Miss.) University. Chapple and Davis will face each other in this weekend's Super Region 2 second round playoff game, while Randolph will lead his team against North Greenville in the second round.

Randolph, a senior from Daleville, Ala., was named the South Atlantic Conference Offensive Player of the Year and led Mars Hill to an 8-2 record entering this weekend's second round playoff game against North Greenville. He is the nation's leading rusher in all divisions with 1,970 yards and 197.0 average per game. He has also rushed for 17 touchdowns and averages 10.2 points per game.

National voting will conclude on December 2 and the top three finishers will be invited to the Shoals for the presentation banquet. The winner of the 2011 award, which is presented by the National Harlon Hill Award Committee, will be announced at the 26th annual Harlon Hill Trophy Presentation Banquet on Friday, December 16 at the Florence Conference Center at 6:30 p.m. This year's Hill Trophy Banquet will also include the 13th induction into the Division II Football Hall of Fame. Tickets are $50 each or $400 for a table of eight and can be purchased by calling the Shoals Chamber of Commerce at (256) 764-4661.

The NCAA Division II Championship Game is scheduled for December 17 at Florence's Braly Municipal Stadium at 10 a.m.
The Hill Trophy is sponsored by the City of Florence, Ala., Florence-Lauderdale Tourism, Opti-Net, the Marriott Shoals Hotel and Spa and Herff Jones.

The initial Harlon Hill Trophy was won by North Dakota State quarterback Jeff Bentrim in 1986, followed by Texas A&M-Kingsville running back Johnny Bailey - in 1987, 1988 and 1989. Another North Dakota State quarterback, Chris Simdorn, claimed the 1990 award, followed by Pittsburg State receiver Ronnie West in 1991, Pittsburg State running back Ronald Moore in 1992, New Haven running back Roger Graham in 1993 and Valdosta State University quarterback Chris Hatcher in 1994. North Alabama linebacker Ronald McKinnon became the first defensive player to win the award when he claimed the Hill Trophy in 1995.

Truman State University running back Jarrett Anderson won the 1996 award and Bloomsburg University running back Irvin Sigler claimed the Hill Trophy in 1997 award. Running back Brian Shay of Emporia State won in 1998, followed by Northern Colorado quarterback Corte McGuffey in 1999 and Valdosta State quarterback Dusty Bonner in 2000 and 2001, and Grand Valley State quarterback Curt Anes in 2002. The 2003 trophy was awarded to North Alabama quarterback Will Hall, and Chad Friehauf of the Colorado School of Mines won the 2004 award. Terwilliger claimed the 2005 Hill Trophy as a junior. Chadron State's Danny Woodhead won the Hill Trophy in 2006 and 2007, joining Bailey and Bonner as the only multiple winners of the award. Abilene Christian's Bernard Scott won the 23rd Hill Trophy, followed by Wayne State's (Mich.) Joique Bell in 2009 and Central Missouri quarterback Eric Czerniewski last year.

[Complete list of Harlon Hill Trophy finalists]

- Courtesy Mars Hill Media Relations