The NCAA Division II sports information directors selected the finalists through a round of regional voting. The eight finalists will now be placed on the national ballot where all 177 of the division’s school and conference SIDs will select the award’s 38th winner.
The top two players from the four Super Regions advanced to the national ballot. Five quarterbacks, two running backs and one wide receiver comprised the list of 2024 finalists.
Brayden Long, a senior quarterback from Slippery Rock, and Charleston running back Chavon Wright advanced from Super Region #1. Two slated to meet in the quarterfinal round of the playoffs on Saturday – Virginia Union running back Jada Byers and Valdosta State quarterback Sammy Edwards – moved on from Super Region #2.
From Super Region #3, Central Missouri senior quarterback Zach Zebrowski, the 2023 Harlon Hill recipient, and Ferris State junior quarterback Trinidad Chambliss earned spots on the national ballot. Zebrowski can become fifth player to win multiple Harlon Hill awards and the first since Ferris State’s Jason Vander Laan won in 2014 and 2015.
Colorado State – Pueblo senior wide receiver Reggie Retzlaff and Angelo State quarterback Braeden Fuller garnered the two finalist slots from Super Region #4.
All eight finalists guided their teams to postseason play – seven to the NCAA Division II playoffs and one to a bowl game. In addition to Byers and Edwards, Chambliss and Long will compete in this weekend’s quarterfinal matchups.
In addition to Zebrowski, Edwards and Long reached the finalist stage for the second-straight year. Byers also became a two-time finalist. He finished fourth in 2022. Wright became Charleston’s first-ever finalist.
The winner of the 2024 award will be announced on Friday, December 20.
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 in the National Football League with the Chicago Bears.
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