LITTLE ROCK, Ark. –  Northwest Missouri State University sophomore running back Jay Harris is among the list of 38 student-athletes from across the nation that have been nominated for the 2023 Harlon Hill Trophy as the Division II College Football Player of the Year.

A total of 10 nominees hail from Super Region 1, eight from Super Region 2, 10 from Super Region 3 and 10 from Super Region 4. 

Harris (St. Louis, Mo./Timberland HS) became the first player in Bearcat football history to rush for 100 or more yards in all 11 regular season games. He is the only player in FBS, FCS and Div. II football to have rushed for 100 yards in every game this season. He led the MIAA in rushing yards (1,433), rushing yards per game (130.3), all-purpose yards (1,465) and all-purpose yards per game (133.2). Harris ranks No. 3 in the nation in rushing yards and in rushing yards per game. He tallied a team-best 14 rushing touchdowns. Harris had a career-high 274 yards rushing with four touchdowns in a 34-21 win over Central Oklahoma on Oct. 7.

Northwest has produced five Harlon Hill finalists in program history in Tony Miles (2000), LaRon Council (2009), Blake Bolles (2010), Kyle Zimmerman (2016) and Al McKeller (2021).

Bearcat Harlon Hill Finalists
Tony Miles, WR - 6th Place (2000)
LaRon Council, RB - 8th Place (2009)
Blake Bolles, QB - 3rd Place (2010)
Kyle Zimmerman, QB - 2nd Place (2016)
Al McKeller, RB - 3rd Place (2021)

Bearcat Harlon Hill Candidates
Ed Tillison, RB - 1989
Chris Griesen, QB - 1998
Tony Miles, WR - 2000
Jamaica Rector, WR - 2003
Jamaica Rector, WR - 2004
Xavier Omon, RB - 2006
Xavier Omon, RB - 2007
LaRon Council, RB - 2008
LaRon Council, RB - 2009
Blake Bolles, QB - 2010
Kyle Zimmerman, QB - 2016
Al McKeller, RB - 2021
Jay Harris, RB - 2023

Colorado School of Mines' John Matocha, the 2022 Hill recipient and a 2023 nominee from Super Region 4 could become the fifth repeat winner in award history.  Bemidji State's Brandon Alt also returns after reaching the finalist stage a season ago.

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.

Harris is one of 10 candidates in Super Region 3. He is one of two running back candidates in Super Region 3.

SUPER REGION #3 Pos. School Cl Hometown 
Andrew Edwards, QB - Henderson State, So., Bentonville, Arkansas 
Kendel Givens, RB - Ouachita Baptist, Jr., Little Rock, Arkansas 
Braden Gleason, QB - Emporia State, Sr., Muldrow, Oklahoma 
Jay Harris, RB - Northwest Missouri State, So., St. Louis, Missouri 
Cade Peterson, QB - Grand Valley State, Sr., Maple City, Michigan 
Gage Porter, QB - Southern Nazarene, Sr., Elk City, Oklahoma 
Devon Roush, LB - East Central, Sr., Houston, Texas 
Gavin Sukup, QB - Indianapolis, So., Seward, Nebraska 
Nathaniel Wallace, DL - Harding, Sr., Bryant, Arkansas 
Zach Zebrowski, QB - Central Missouri, Jr,. Woodbury, Minnesota

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 list features 19 seniors, 11 juniors and eight sophomores.

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.