T.J. Davis finishes second in 2021 Harlon Hill Trophy voting

UNK Athletics

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – Nebraska-Kearney redshirt junior quarterback TJ Davis finished runner up in voting for the 2021 Harlon Hill Trophy, given to the top player in NCAA Division II.

Sports information directors (SID’s) and Conference Information Directors vote on the award (around 180 total votes available; 89 votes cast this year). The Great American Conf. (GAC) and Little Rock (Ark.) Touchdown Club made the announcement today live on You Tube and Facebook. The point system of three points for a first-place vote, two for second and one for third determined the total.

Davis (Colorado Springs/Widefield H.S.) was one of eight national finalists. The field began with nearly 40 candidates split among D2’s four football regions. The two top vote getters from each region advanced to the national ballot with national voting ending on Dec. 10. ” src=”blob:https://nebraskasports.net/de0271d9-f875-4b19-bf23-f28c845f1343″ alt=”image001.gif” border=”0″ class=”Apple-web-attachment Singleton” style=”width: 0.1562in; height: 0.1562in;”>​

Shepherd (W.V.) University junior QB Tyson Bagent won with 169 points (44 1st place; 15 2nd place; seven 3rd place). He threw for an even 5,000 yards and 53 TD’s this fall in leading the Rams to a 13-2 record and the third round of the playoffs. His 42-yard “Hail Mary” helped SU win its second-round playoff game.

Davis tallied 105 points (17 1st place, 21 2nd place; 12 3rd place) to come in second. He joins fellow Loper QB Justin Coleman as a Harlon Hill runner up. In 2000 Coleman tallied 107 points (17 1st place; 20 2nd place; 16 3rd place) with Valdosta (Ga.) State QB Dusty Bonner the winner (156 points). Coleman was sixth in 1999 with QB Jake Spitzlberger (6th/2011) being UNK’s other national finalist.

Davis had a memorable season as part of the Lopers 10-3 playoff run. He had a hand in 40 touchdowns (21 passing, 18 rushing and one receiving), is currently the nation’s second most efficient passer (183.3), ran for 1,151 yards and threw for 2,320 yards. Next, Davis broke his own school-record for rushing TD’s by a QB in a season, became UNK’s all-time leader in rushing TD’s (41) and is one of just three Lopers to have multiple 1,000-rushing season in a career. Finally, he had four games with at least four TD’s and eight straight games with at least two passes.

This is the 35th year the Harlon Hill has been awarded. The Hill Trophy is named for the late Harlon Hill – the former University of North Alabama standout – who excelled with the Lions from 1950-53 before going on to fame with the Chicago Bears. North Alabama and the city of Florence, Ala., used to be the stewards of the trophy before the award moved over to Arkansas as the Lions are now in Division I. Bagent will be attend a banquet on Jan. 14 in Little Rock to receive this year’s trophy.