Northwest Missouri State senior defensive lineman Elijah Green has been named as one of nine finalists for the 2022 Gene Upshaw Division II Lineman of the Year Award, presented by the Manheim Touchdown Club.

MIAA Defensive Player of the Year Green has led a powerful Northwest Missouri State defense in 2022 as the Bearcats head to the NCAA Second Round. He led the MIAA in sacks (11) and TFL (21), ranking 11th and 12th nationally in those respective categories. Northwest's run defense ranks second nationally allowing a paltry 56 yards per game and Green is also a Harlon Hill Award nominee.

The award is voted on by the nation's NCAA Division II sports information directors. Two finalists advanced from each of the four NCAA Division II super regions to a national ballot. All nominees must be seniors or graduate players/transfers.

The finalists are: defensive end D.J. Adediwura of Slippery Rock and offensive tackle Joey Fisher of Shepherd from Super Region 1; offensive tackle Nicolas Melsop of Delta State and offensive guard Dalton Simpler from West Florida out of Super Region 2; offensive tackle Quinton Barrow of Grand Valley State, defensive end Elijah Green of Northwest Missouri State, and defensive end Caleb Murphy of Ferris State from Super Region 3; and center Matt Armendariz of Colorado School of Mines and defensive end Zollie Kaplan of Bemidji State from Super Region 4. Three finalists advanced from Super Region 3 due to a tie in voting.

All nine finalists are still playing as their teams made it to this Saturday's NCAA Championship Second Round, and there will be three match-ups of finalists as Delta State plays West Florida, Grand Valley State plays Northwest Missouri State, and Shepherd plays Slippery Rock. The group is made up of four defensive players - all defensive ends - and five offensive linemen with three tackles, a guard, and a center. Three of the finalists - Adediwura, Green, and Murphy - also appeared on the nominees list for the Harlon Hill Award, given to NCAA Division II's best overall player, announced earlier this week.

The national round of voting begins on Friday Nov. 25 and closes on Friday, Dec. 2. The winner will be announced on Monday, Dec. 5. The award recipient has an invitation to participate in front of professional scouts and coaches at the East-West Shrine Bowl in Las Vegas, Nev. The winner will also be recognized at the Manheim Touchdown Club's annual banquet.

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.