Tusculum’s Russell Named Finalist For Harlon Hill Trophy

FLORENCE, Ala. --- Tusculum College quarterback Corey Russell has been named one of the eight national finalists for the 2008 Harlon Hill Trophy, recognizing the NCAA Division II College Football Player of the Year.

The finalists were selected by the NCAA Division II sports information directors in regional voting and will now be placed on the national ballot where all 154 of the division's SIDs will select the award's 23rd winner. The top two players from each of the Division II's Super Regionals advanced to the national ballot.

The list of national finalists includes: Corey Russell (QB, Tusculum), Trevor Harris (QB, Edinboro), Michael Washington (WR, West Chester), A.J. Milwee (QB, North Alabama), Brad Iciek (QB, Grand Valley State), Ted Schlafke (QB, Minnesota-Duluth), Mike Reilly (QB, Central Washington) and Bernard Scott (RB, Abilene Christian).

National voting will conclude on November 29 and the top three finalists will be invited to Florence, Ala. for the presentation banquet. The winner of the 2008 award, which is presented by the National Harlon Hill Award Committee, will be announced at the 23rd annual Harlon Hill Trophy Presentation Banquet on December 12 at the Florence Conference Center.

Russell, a 6-4, 190-pound senior from Speedwell, Tenn., is enjoying one of the finest gridiron seasons ever by a Tusculum football player. He has named the South Atlantic Conference Player of the Year, while leading the Pioneers to a SAC Championship and a berth to the NCAA II Playoffs for the first time in school history. In Saturday's opening round game, he accounted for all five of Tusculum's touchdowns (3 passing, 2 rushing) in a 34-22 come-from-behind win.

The 2008 All-SAC First Team selection has established a new NCAA II single-season record for most games with 300 or more total offensive yards (10). He currently leads the nation with his 4,487 total offensive yards, which are a new school and conference record. Russell's yardage tally is also the third-most in NCAA history. He has accounted for 276 points this season, which is also the best in NCAA II this year (23.0 PPG - 1st in NCAA II).

In 2008, he has passed for 3,787 yards and 34 touchdowns. Russell is also Tusculum's leading rusher with 700 yards and 12 touchdowns himself.

The Cumberland Gap High School graduate holds the Tusculum record with 10,895 total offensive yards, which is 11th most in NCAA II history. He is one of only 21 players in NCAA II history with over 10,000 yards in his career. He has also accounted for 100 career touchdowns, which are the second most in SAC history.

Russell joins former All-American cornerback Ricardo Colclough as the only two Tusculum players to advance to the Harlon Hill Trophy national ballot. Colclough finished fourth in the national voting in 2003.

Russell becomes only the fifth player in South Atlantic Conference history to advance as a national finalist. Running back Tyrone Westmoreland of Carson-Newman was a finalist for the award in 1997. Presbyterian College quarterback Todd Cunningham was amongst the final eight in 1999 and again in 2001. C-N signal caller Leonard Guyton was a finalist in 2002, while Colclough advanced a year later.

Tusculum is 9-3 this year, ending the regular season ranked No. 4 in NCAA II Super Regional Two. The Pioneers will face regional top-seed Delta State (9-1) this Saturday in the second round of the playoffs at 1 p.m. (EST) from Cleveland, Miss.