Release courtesy of Muhlenberg Athletic Communications
Muhlenberg senior Michael Hnatkowsky was named one of 15 semifinalists for the Gagliardi Trophy.
Presented annually since 1993 by Jostens and the J-Club of Saint John's University (Minn.) to the most outstanding football player in NCAA Division III, the Gagliardi Trophy recognizes excellence in athletics, academics and community service. The award is named after John Gagliardi, the legendary Saint John's Hall of Fame head football coach who passed away at the age of 91 in 2018. He retired in 2012 with 489 career victories, the most in college football history.
The Gagliardi Trophy finalists will be announced during a live show on Thursday, December 9, on D3football.com, with the winner to be revealed on D3football.com during the week of the NCAA Division III national championship game on Friday, December 17. The Gagliardi Trophy national selection committee is comprised of 16 Division III coaches (representing all six NCAA regions), four Division III administrators, eight regional notable voters and eight national voters with Division III backgrounds.
A fan vote, which runs until December 3, is live on D3football.com.
The Centennial Conference offensive player of the year for the second straight season, Hnatkowsky ranks in the top five in Division III in passing yards (3,326), passing TDs (42), completion percentage (.727), passing efficiency (181.8) and points responsible for (264) through the first round of the NCAA playoffs. He has a career record of 40-6 as a starter, leading the Mules to three straight CC championships, four straight postseason berths and 7-2 postseason record.
Hnatkowsky is tied for sixth in Division III history with 139 career TD passes and is the all-time CC leader in passing yards (12,158), passing TDs, completions (932) and total offense yards (12,655). He has been named CC player of the week nine times during his career.
Hnatkowsky passed for 352 yards and four touchdowns in the first round of the NCAA Tournament as Muhlenberg defeated Framingham State, 45-0. The Mules travel to Delaware Valley for a second-round game this Saturday.
Twelve seniors and three juniors make up the semifinalists for the 2021 Gagliardi Trophy:
Ian Blankenship, Merchant Marine senior RB
Jefferson Fritz, Mary Hardin-Baylor senior DB/P/RET
Cody Gustafson, Grove City senior WR
Blaine Hawkins, Central senior QB
Michael Hnatkowsky, Muhlenberg senior QB
Tucker Horn, Trinity (Texas) junior QB
Tyler Jarnagin, Benedictine senior QB
Kyle Jones, Hardin-Simmons senior QB
Andrew Kamienski, North Central senior WR
Max Meylor, Wisconsin-Whitewater senior QB
Braxton Plunk, Mount Union junior QB
Jaron Roste, Bethel junior QB
Brees Segala, Cortland senior QB
Wyatt Smith, Linfield senior QB
Gavin Zimbelman, Aurora senior QB
Hnatkowsky is the first Gagliardi semifinalist ever for Muhlenberg, and the sixth in CC history.