LITTLE ROCK, Ark. - Upper Iowa's Mante Morrow was one of 36 student-athletes across the country who have been nominated for the 2025 Harlon Hill Trophy as the Division II College Football Player of the Year.
This season, Morrow totaled 900 receiving yards with 12 touchdowns, totaling a career-high in both categories. He ranked sixth in the country in receiving touchdowns and 12th in receiving yards per game. The senior receiver earned an All-GLVC First Team selection for the second time in his career.
Morrow becomes the second nominee for the award in program history. He joins running back Chris Smith in 2013, a former NSIC Offensive Player of the Year.
A total of eight nominees hail from Super Region 1, eight from Super Region 2, eight from Super Region 3 and 12 from Super Region 4.
The sports information directors at the 159 NCAA Division II football-playing institutions nominate and vote on the award. The 36 initial candidates will be placed on regional ballots and the top two players from each of the four NCAA regions will advance to the national ballot when regional voting concludes on Monday, December 1.
The sports information directors at their respective schools initially nominate candidates. The SIDs in those Super Regions vote for their top five candidates. The winner is then determined in a nationwide vote of the Division II sports information directors.
The group of 36 candidates includes 16 quarterbacks, 10 running backs, three wide receivers, three linebackers, a defensive linemen, a safety, a tight end and a punter/kicker.
The list features 20 seniors, 11 juniors and two sophomores and three freshmen.
The winner of the 2025 award will be announced on Friday, December 19.
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.
2025 HARLON HILL REGIONAL CANDIDATES
SUPER REGION #1
Curtis Allen RB Virginia Union Sr. Petersburg, Virginia
Jamieson Alston LB Winston-Salem State Sr. Fayetteville, North Carolina
Leonard Farrow RB Fairmont State Jr. Mount Hope, West Virginia
JayJay Jordan RB Slippery Rock Jr. Reading, Pennsylvania
Jay Kastantin QB Assumption Sr. Needham, Massachusetts
Judd Novak QB Kutztown Jr. Manheim, Pennsylvania
Jackson Ostrowsky QB Lock Haven Sr. Mount Pleasant, Michigan
Matthew Rueve QB Indiana (Pa.) Sr. Cincinnati, Ohio
SUPER REGION #2
Preston Brown QB Catawba Sr. Charlotte, North Carolina
Reed Charpia QB Newberry Sr. Cayce, South Carolina
Domonique Davis LB Central State Sr. Atlanta Georgia
Fabian Duncan RB Allen So. Charlotte, North Carolina
Jordan Jackson RB Emory & Henry Sr. Richmond, Virginia
Isaiah Knowles QB Albany State Sr. Tampa, Florida
Xavier Pugh RB Wingate Jr. Raleigh, North Carolina
Marcus Stokes QB West Florida So. St. Augustine, Florida
SUPER REGION #3
Luke Dehnicke TE Minnesota-Duluth Fr. Andover, Minnesota
Noah Dobert RB Northern Michigan Fr. Dearborn, Michigan
Dawson Forgy RB Wayne State College Jr. Winterset, Iowa
Dylan Hair QB Truman State Jr Wardsville, Missouri
Mante Morrow WR Upper Iowa Sr. Joliet, Illinois
Michael Shimek DE Ashland Sr. North Canton, Ohio
Jack Strand QB Minnesota State-Moorhead Sr. Bloomer, Wisconsin
Gavin Sukup QB Indianapolis Sr. Seward, Nebraska
SUPER REGION #4
Jay Todd Baker P/K Southern Arkansas Jr. Magnolia, Arkansas
TJ Chukwurah WR Black Hills State Jr. Arlington, Texas
Andrew Edwards QB Henderson State Sr. Bentonville, Arkansas
Tristan Exline LB UT Permian Basin Jr. China Spring, Texas
Jeffery Jones RB New Mexico Highlands Fr. St. Petersburg, Florida
Will Lester S South Dakota Mines Sr. Arvada, Colorado
Kennedy McGill QB Central Washington Jr. Bothell, Washington
RJ Martinez QB West Texas A&M Sr. Austin, Texas
Andrew Miller RB Harding Jr. Searcy, Arkansas
Drew Nash QB Western Colorado Sr. Torrance, California
Reggie Retzlaff WR CSU Pueblo Sr. Corona, California
Jack Turner QB Texas A&M-Kingsville Sr. Round Rock, Texas
