Catawba's Swinton and Wingate's Hart Named Gene Upshaw Lineman of the Year Finalists
MANHEIM, Pa. – Eight national finalists have been selected for the 2025 Gene Upshaw Division II Lineman of the Year Award, presented by the Manheim Touchdown Club. The South Atlantic Conference has two players represented as Wingate's Will Hart and Catawba's Avery Swinton were named finalists.
Two finalists from each of NCAA Division II's four super regions were voted forward by sports information directors around the country. They are: from SR1, Slippery Rock offensive tackle Joe Cooper and Kutztown offensive tackle Ryan Schernecke; from SR2, Wingate guard Will Hart and Catawba offensive tackle Avery Swinton; from SR3, Ferris State offensive tackle Tim Anderson and Ashland defensive end Michael Shimek; and from SR4, Central Washington center Slade Edwards and Harding offensive tackle Jake Mitchell.
Two programs earn their first-ever finalists: Catawba with Swinton, and Central Washington with Edwards. Three other institutions have their second finalists ever with Mitchell marking Harding's second in a row, while Schernecke is Kutztown's first finalist since 2016 and Shimek represents Ashland's first since 2018. Slippery Rock extends its national-best finalists streak to six consecutive awards with Cooper, while Wingate has a finalist for the third consecutive year in Will Hart after their Marquise Fleming won the 2024 award. Ferris State, which has won three of the last five Upshaw Awards, returns to the finalists group after a year away with Anderson. It is only the second time in the award's history - and first since 2012 - that seven offensive linemen were in the finalists group.
The eight finalists came from a group of 29 nominees, and three finalists are still playing as their teams participate in this weekend's NCAA Division II Championship quarterfinals: Schernecke with Kutztown, Anderson with Ferris State, and Mitchell with Harding. Eight nominees overall played in this year's NCAA D-II tournament.
The winner will be voted upon by sports information directors from across Division II and announced Dec. 12. All nominees are seniors or graduate players/transfers and are lineman on either side of the ball at either offensive tackle, guard, or center; or defensive tackle, guard, or end.
The award is named in honor of the late Mr. Upshaw, who was not only an All-Pro lineman for the Oakland Raiders, but later served as the executive director of the NFL Players Association for 25 years. Upshaw, a former standout offensive lineman at Texas A&I University (now Texas A&M Kingsville), was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1987 in his first year of eligibility. The award is presented annually by the Manheim Touchdown Club.
2025 Gene Upshaw Award Finalists
Tim Anderson - OT - Ferris State
Joe Cooper - OT - Slippery Rock
Slade Edwards - OC - Central Washington
Will Hart - OG - Wingate
Jake Mitchell - OT - Harding
Ryan Schernecke - OT – Kutztown
Michael Shimek - DE – Ashland
Avery Swinton - OT – Catawba