December 5th, 2024 11:00am
MANHEIM, Pa. – Eight national finalists have been selected for the 2024 Gene Upshaw Division II Lineman of the Year Award, presented by the Manheim Touchdown Club.
Two finalists from each of NCAA Division II's four super regions were voted upon by sports information directors around the country. They are: from Super Region 1, California (Pa.) center Jaheim Bassham and Slippery Rock defensive end Todd Hill; from Super Region 2, Virginia Union defensive end Isaac Anderson and Wingate defensive end Marquise Fleming; from Super Region 3, Grand Valley State offensive tackle Gabe Brown and Harding nose tackle Gage Price; and from Super Region 4, Bemidji State center Jake Gannon and Colorado School of Mines offensive tackle Nic Van de Graaf.
The winner will be voted upon by sports information directors from across Division II and announced Dec. 12. All nominees are seniors or graduate players/transfers and are lineman on either side of the ball at either offensive tackle, guard, or center; or defensive tackle, guard, or end.
The eight finalists came from a group of 31 nominees, and seven participated or are still playing in the NCAA Division II Championship tournament. This weekend, Bassham and Hill will go head-to-head as California (Pa.) hosts Slippery Rock in the SR1 final, while in SR2, Anderson and Fleming played each other in the first round as Anderson's Virginia Union heads to this weekend's regional final. In Super Region 3, Brown and Price faced off last week as Harding defeated Grand Valley State to advance to Saturday's regional final, and in SR4, Gannon and his Bemidji State team play at Minnesota State in that regional final. Fleming is a repeat finalist, finishing second in the 2023 voting.
The award is named in honor of 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. The award is presented annually by the Manheim Touchdown Club.
2024 Gene Upshaw Award Finalists
Jaheim Bassham - OC - California (Pa.)
Todd Hill - DE - Slippery Rock
Isaac Anderson - DE - Virginia Union
Marquise Fleming - DE - Wingate
Gabe Brown - OT - Grand Valley State
Gage Price - NT - Harding
Jake Gannon - OC - Bemidji State
Nic Van de Graaf - OT - Colorado School of Mines