Football’s Randolph nominated for Hill Trophy

FLORENCE, Ala. - Mars Hill running back Jonas Randolph is one of 24 candidates in the running for the 2010 Harlon Hill Trophy, which was announced Thursday by the National Harlon Hill Award Committee. The award is given to the NCAA Division II College Football Player of the Year.

Randolph, from Daleville, Ala., is one of three players among the 2010 candidates who were also candidates a year ago. West Liberty University quarterback Zach Amedro was a national finalist in 2009. Randolph and Southwest Baptist University quarterback Steve Gachette were regional candidates last season.

The list includes six players from each of Division II's four Super Regionals.

Players are nominated and voted on by the sports information directors at the 148 NCAA Division II football-playing institutions. The 24 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 November 19.

The winner of the 2010 award, which is presented by the National Harlon Hill Award Committee, will be announced at the 25th annual Harlon Hill Trophy Presentation Banquet on Friday, December 17 at the Florence Conference Center at 6:30 p.m. This year's Hill Trophy Banquet will also include the 12th induction into the Division II Football Hall of Fame, with Ken Sparks, Mel Tjeerdsma and Bobby Wallace becoming the first coaches to be inducted.

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 18 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 group of 24 candidates includes 15 quarterbacks, seven running backs, one receiver and one linebacker. There are 13 seniors, six juniors, three sophomores and two freshmen.

Candidates from Super Regional 2 are Randolph, sophomore quarterback Bo Cordell of Tusculum (Tenn.) College, junior quarterback Cody Haffly of Wingate (N.C.) University. senior quarterback Nick Hardesty of Henderson State (Ark.) University, junior quarterback Stanley Jennings of Albany State (Ga.) University and senior quarterback Deon Williams of the University of West Alabama.

North Dakota State quarterback Jeff Bentrim won the initial Hill Trophy in 1986, followed by three-time winner - Texas A&I (now 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, Valdosta State quarterback Chris Hatcher in 1994.

North Alabama linebacker Ronald McKinnon became the first and so far only defensive player to win the award in 1995, followed by Truman State running back Jarrett Anderson in 1996, Bloomsburg University running back Irvin Sigler in 1997, Emporia State running back Brian Shay in 1998 and Northern Colorado quarterback Corte McGuffey in 1999.

The award had its second two-time winner when Valdosta State quarterback Dusty Bonner claimed the Hill Trophy in 2000 and 2001.

Grand Valley State quarterback Curt Anes won the Hill Trophy in 2002, followed by North Alabama quarterback Will Hall in 2003, Colorado School of Mines quarterback Chad Friehauf in 2004 and East Stroudsburg's Jimmy Terwilliger in 2005. The last four Hill Trophies have been won by running backs, beginning with Chadron State's Danny Woodhead in 2006 and 2007. Abilene Christian's Bernard Scott won in 2008 and Wayne State (Mich.) running back Joique Bell was the 2009 winner.