Arcata >> Humboldt State offensive lineman Alex Cappa and running back Ja’Quan Gardner have been nominated for separate NCAA postseason football awards after leading the Humboldt State Lumberjacks football team to an 8-2 season.
Cappa was tabbed as one of eight finalists for the 2017 Gene Upshaw Division II Lineman of the Year Award while Gardner was named one of 34 players nominated for this season’s Harlon Hill Award given to the NCAA Division II College Football Player of the Year.
Alex Cappa Named Gene Upshaw Award Finalist >> Senior left tackle Alex Cappa was named one of eight finalists for the 2017 Gene Upshaw Division II Lineman of the Year Award Monday. The award is presented by the Manheim (Penn.) Touchdown Club and voted upon by the nation’s NCAA Division II sports information directors.
Regional voting cut the field of 44 nominees to eight finalists. Two advance from each of the four NCAA DII super regions.
The Dublin, Calif., native was named the Great Northwest Athletic Conference Offensive Lineman of the Year for a record fourth consecutive season last week. Cappa was a unanimous All-GNAC First Team offensive lineman as he anchored the Jacks offensive line which protected the conference’s top offense.
The national round of voting began Monday and closes Monday, Nov. 27. The award winner will be announced on Wednesday, Nov. 29. The recipient has an invitation to participate in the East-West Shrine Game in St. Petersburg, Fla. The winner will also be honored at the Manheim Touchdown Club’s banquet in May.
Ja’Quan Gardner Nominated for 2017 Harlon Hill Trophy >> Senior running back Ja’Quan Gardner is one of 34 student-athletes nominated for the 2017 Harlon Hill Trophy, the NCAA Division II College Football Player of the Year award.
Players are nominated and voted on by the sports information directors at the 169 NCAA Division II football-playing institutions. The group of 34 candidates includes 13 running backs, 12 quarterbacks, four receivers and five defensive players.
The Ceres, Calif., product was tabbed the Great Northwest Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Year and was a unanimous First Team All-GNAC selection at running back. Gardner led the GNAC in rushing yards (1,259), rushing touchdowns (19) and carries (203). He became the conference’s all-time rushing leader this season eclipsing the record held by former Azusa Pacific running back Terrell Watson with 5,426 rushing yards. Gardner also moved to the top of the GNAC record book in career rushing touchdowns (70) and carries (878).
Gardner was the Harlon Hill Trophy runner-up in 2015.
The field will be narrowed to eight national finalist when regional voting concludes on Monday, Nov. 27. The winner of the award will be announced on Friday, Dec. 15 and will be honored on the University of North Alabama campus at a luncheon on Jan. 5, 2018.
