Wheaton's Will Bowers named a semifinalist for the Gagliardi Trophy

Wheaton, Ill. - Wheaton College quarterback Will Bowers has been named as one of 15 semifinalists for the 2022 Gagliardi Trophy, an award 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, recognizes excellence in athletics, academics and community service. The award is named after John Gagliardi, the legendary Hall of Fame head football coach at St. Johns, who retired in 2012 with 489 career victories, the most in college football history at the time.

Bowers is the third Wheaton player to be a semifinalist for the award, joining linebacker Eric Stevenson (2018) and offensive lineman Matt Snebold (2015). Bowers is a graduate student at Wheaton in the Global Leadership master's program. Bowers was the only quarterback selected to the CCIW First Team this year. He is ranked second in Division III in completion percentage (76.4%) and shattered a 10-year old school single-season record for completion percentage. He is ranked seventh n D3 in passing touchdowns, ninth in points responsible for. and 4th in D3 in total offense.

Bowers passed for 2,829 yards this year on 249-for-326 passing (76.4%). He threw for 34 touchdowns this season, a mark that is second on Wheaton's single-season records list, one behind the single-season record.

Four Gagliardi Trophy finalists will be released by D3football.com on Wednesday, December 7th, in a live streaming broadcast. The winner of the 2022 Gagliardi Trophy will be announced by D3football.com prior to the Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl.

After screening the schools' nominations, the SJU J-Club Board of Directors narrowed the field to 15 semifinalists. The 40-member Gagliardi Trophy national selection committee reviews the credentials, ranks the candidates 1-15 and casts their votes. Fan balloting, which is available on D3football.com, accounts for the 41st ballot, and is being conducted on D3football.com for the 12th-consecutive season. Fans will be permitted to cast one ballot per device, through 1 p.m. ET on Dec. 3.

Originally published by Wheaton College Athletics: /news/2022/11/22/wheatons-will-bowers-named-a-semifinalist-for-the-gagliardi-trophy.aspx