About the Gene Upshaw Award

The Gene Upshaw Award is presented annually to the top senior or graduate student lineman (offensive or defensive) in NCAA Division II. 

Established in 2004, the award is named in honor of the late Mr. Eugene Thurman Upshaw, Jr. Upshaw was an All-Pro lineman for the Oakland Raiders and later served as the executive director of the NFL Players Association for 25 years. A former standout offensive lineman at Texas A&I University (now Texas A&M Kingsville), Upshaw was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1987 in his first year of eligibility. The award is presented annually by the Manheim Touchdown Club.

Past winners of the Gene Upshaw Award

2024: Marquise Flemming, Wingate 

2023: Levi Johnson, Colorado School of Mines

2022: Caleb Murphy, Ferris State

2021: Dylan Pasquai, Ferris State

2020: No award 

2019: Austin Edwards, Ferris State

2018: Markus Jones, Angelo State

2017: Marcus Martin, Slippery Rock

2016: Jordan Morgan, Kutztown

2015: Matt Judon, Grand Valley State

2014: Darius Allen, Colorado State-Pueblo

2013: Darius Allen, Colorado State-Pueblo

2012: Garth Heikkinen, Minnesota-Duluth

2011: Joe Long, Wayne State (Mi)

2010: Brandon Fusco, Slippery Rock

2009: Ben Staggs, West Liberty

2008: Sam Collins, Abilene Christian

2007: Brandon Barnes, Grand Valley State

2006: Mike McFadden, Grand Valley State

2005: Mike McFadden, Grand Valley State

2004: Nathan Baker, Pittsburg State