ONEONTA, NY - Hartwick College's Jason Boltus (Baldwinsville, NY) has been named one of 10 finalists for the 16th Annual Gagliardi Trophy, it was announced Wednesday morning. The Hawks' signal caller was also a finalist for the award last season.
The Gagliardi Trophy is given to the top well-rounded football player in Division III, recognizing the top individual achiever in athletics, academics and community service.
This past season, Boltus led the nation in total offense (415.5 yards per game), points responsible for (28.80 points per game), total passing yards (3,934), and passing yards per game (393.40 yards per game). He was also 3rd in the country in passing efficiency with a rating of 173.9. Boltus set the all-time NCAA Div. III record for total yards in a career with 14,231 and set an NCAA season-high with 531 passing yards in a win over Norwich. He threw for over 300 yards nine times and over 400 yards four times in 2008. He threw for 46 touchdowns and broke Hartwick records for career touchdown passes and yardage this season.
Earlier this season, Boltus was named the Empire 8 Conference's Offensive Player of the Year for the second straight season. He joins the other list of finalists - Augsburg quarterback Jordan Berg, Hardin-Simmons quarterback Justin Feaster, Millsaps quarterback Juan Joseph, Mount Union quarterback Greg Micheli, Otterbein quarterback Jack Rafferty, Franklin quarterback Chad Rupp, North Central running back Dominic Sulo, Washington and Jefferson quarterback Bobby Swallow and Case Western Reserve quarterback Dan Whalen.
The Gagliardi Trophy winner is chosen by a national selection committee which is comprised of coaches, sports writers, community leaders, as well as former NCAA Division III standouts, that have been enshrined in the National Collegiate Football Hall of Fame.
For the second straight year, fans will be able to cast a vote and play a part in selecting the winner. Access to the ballot may be found at:
http://www.d3football.com/frame/c81e728d9d4c2f636f067f89cc14862c
All of the fans' electronic votes will be tallied as one collective vote, which will be added to those of the 35 national selection committee members to determine the 2008 Gagliardi Trophy recipient. Ballots maybe cast immediately through 12 p.m. on Tuesday, December 9.
The Gagliardi Trophy is named after the Saint John's (Minn.) head football coach John Gagliardi, who is the first active head coach to be inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame and the winningest coach in collegiate football history with 461 career victories in 60 seasons.
The 16th annual Gagliardi Award will be presented on Thursday, Dec. 18, at the NCAA banquet in Salem, VA prior to the NCAA Division III title game which will take place on Dec. 20.
