Football | 11/28/2022 11:55:45 AM
Utica University wide receiver
Nate Palmer (Verona, NY) is one of 15 semifinalists for the 29th Gagliardi Trophy. The award (pronounced Gah-LAR-dee) is presented 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, given annually since 1993 (except for 2020), recognizes excellence in athletics, academics and community service. The award is named after John Gagliardi, legendary Hall of Fame head football coach at Saint John's who passed away in 2018 at age 91. He retired in 2012 with 489 career victories, the most in college football history.
Palmer is among a group of six quarterbacks, four running backs, two wide receivers, one offensive lineman, one defensive end and one defensive lineman on the list of semifinalists, 12 of which participated in the NCAA Division III tournament first round. The list will be narrowed to four finalists, who will be announced during a live show on Wednesday, Dec. 7, on D3football.com, and the 2022 Gagliardi Trophy winner will be revealed on D3football.com during the week of the NCAA Division III football national championship on Friday, Dec. 16.
The award is voted on by the 40-member Gagliardi Trophy national selection committee that includes Division III coaches, administrators, notable regional voters, and national voters with Division III backgrounds. Fan balloting, which is available on D3football.com, accounts for one collective "41st" ballot.
Fans may cast one ballot per device through 1 p.m. on Dec. 3.
The 2022 Empire 8 Offensive Player of the Year, Palmer, a graduate student, enjoyed a remarkable season for the Pioneers, helping lead his team to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in program history, advancing to the second round. Utica won a program record 10 games. Palmer finished the season with 75 receptions for 1,291 yards and 20 total touchdowns (18 receiving, one rushing and one punt return) in 12 games.
Palmer led the Empire 8 and is second nationally in receiving touchdowns, receiving yards and is fifth in receiving yards per game. A model of consistency, Palmer recorded eight 100-yard games receiving and scored at least one touchdown in 11 of 12 games for the Pioneers. In addition, he had at least six receptions in 10 contests. He opened the season by catching eight passes for 222 yards and four touchdowns in a win over University of Rochester on Sept. 3 and recorded two different three touchdown games in league play, versus Brockport and Alfred.
Palmer, a criminal intelligence analysis/fraud and financial crime major, is Utica’s first Gagliardi Trophy finalist.
The 15 semifinalists for the 2022 Gagliardi Trophy are:
Will Bowers, Sr., QB, Wheaton (Ill.)
Ethan Greenfield, Sr., RB, North Central (Ill.)
Kyle King, Sr., QB/P, Mary-Hardin Baylor
Evan Lewandowski, Sr., QB, Wisconsin-Whitewater
Jon Lewis, So., RB, Birmingham-Southern
Phil Lutz, Sr., WR, Tufts
Jon Murray Jr.,, Sr., RB, Baldwin Wallace
Michael Nobile, Sr., DE, Delaware Valley
Nate Palmer, Gr., WR, Utica
Braxton Plunk, Sr., QB, Mount Union
Jaran Roste, Sr., QB, Bethel
Joey Stutzman, Sr., RB, Wisconsin-La Crosse
Boomer Warren, Sr., OL, Hardin-Simmons
A.J. Wingfield, Sr., QB, Ithaca
Michael Wozniak, Sr., DL, Saint John’s
ABOUT THE EMPIRE 8 CONFERENCE
The members of the Empire 8 Conference are committed first and foremost to the pursuit of academic excellence and the league is regarded as an outstanding NCAA Division III conference. The membership has distinguished itself among its peer group for its quality institutions, spirited and sportsmanlike competition, outstanding services and highly ethical policies and practices. Its commitment to serve the educational needs of its student-athletes is the hallmark of the E8. For more on the Empire 8 visit
www.empire8.com.
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