Aurora University senior quarterback
Gavin Zimbelman was named a finalist for the 2021 Gagliardi Trophy, the premier individual award in NCAA Division III Football. Jostens and the J-Club of Saint John's University (Minnesota) presents the Gagliardi Trophy. The 2021 finalists were announced by d3football.com for the annual award on Thursday (
watch the announcement show). The winner of the 2021 Gagliardi Trophy will be announced by D3football.com on Friday, December 17, as part of Stagg Bowl pregame coverage.
With today's announcement, Zimbelman becomes a two-time finalist for the prestigious Gagliardi Trophy, having been a finalist following the 2019 season. The 2021 season has seen Zimbelman garner a lengthy list of accomplishments, having been selected as a a second-team all-region quarterback by D3football.com, the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference Offensive Player of the Year and First-Team All-Conference. Zimbelman was the first Spartan to advance to the semifinal or final stage of the Gagliardi award process in 2019 and adds to that impressive accomplishment with this second selection..
On the 2021 season, Zimbelman completed 219-of-370 passes for 3,065 yards and ranking among an NCAA Division III-best 46 touchdowns. Zimbelman threw for five or more touchdowns in seven of 10 regular-season games. He finished the season with a 59.2 completion percentage, a 165.5 passing efficiency and 278.6 yards per game. He helped lead AU to the 2021 NACC championship, a third straight and an appearance in the Division III Football Championship for a second consecutive season.
He graduated with two degrees, business administration and sport management, in May 2021 and is currently pursuing his MBA in the AU plus one program. Zimbelman has volunteered with the Aurora Area Interfaith Food pantry, served as a mentor for the Triple Threat mentoring program, which provide activities for at-risk youth, as well as served as a volunteer at the CAAEL basketball tournament, helping successfully serve a wide-range of student with respect to age, disabilities, race, socio-economic background and culture.
12 seniors and three juniors were originally named semifinalists for the 2021 Gagliardi Trophy with five finalists being named from that group. Joining Zimbelman as finalists are Jefferson Fritz, defensive back/punter/return man from University of Mary Hardin-Baylor, Blaine Hawkins, quarterback from Central College, Andrew Kamienski, wide receiver from North Central College, (Ill.) and Wyatt Smith, quarterback from Linfield College.
The Gagliardi Trophy, given annually since 1993, recognizes excellence in athletics, academics and community service. The award is named after
John Gagliardi, Saint John's legendary Hall of Fame head football coach who retired in 2012 with 489 career victories, the most in college football history. John passed away in October 2018 at the age of 91.
The trophy design features a sculpture of Gagliardi and a player, representing the teacher-coach and the student-athlete in a one-on-one sideline consultation. Hand-cast in bronze on a polished wood base, the trophy stands nearly two feet tall and weighs approximately 64 pounds. The words "The Gagliardi Trophy presented by Jostens & J-Club" are printed on the acrylic panel behind the figures. The words "Division III 2019 Player of the Year" and "Honoring Excellence in Football, Academics and Community Service" are etched on two panels below the figures.
Nominations were submitted by colleges across the country, and 15 semifinalists were selected by the J-Club Board of Directors. The finalists then moved on to the Gagliardi Trophy national-selection committee, which is comprised of 18 coaches, six NCAA Division III administrators, 12 regional voters and seven national Division III experts. Each cast a ballot ranking the semifinalists. A fan ballot, which served as the 40th committee member was operates on D3football.com had over 30,000 votes cast.
