The Gene Upshaw Award is awarded to the best lineman, offensive or defensive, in NCAA Division II college football. The award is presented by the Manheim Touchdown Club and is recognized by the National Collegiate Athletic Association.

Gene Upshaw Award
Awarded forBest lineman in Division II college football
CountryUnited States
Presented byManheim Touchdown Club
History
First award2004
Most recentCaleb Murphy, Ferris State

The award is named after former NFL offensive lineman Gene Upshaw, who played college football at Texas A&I University and later for the Oakland Raiders in the NFL. He was inducted into both the College Football Hall of Fame and Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Criteria

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  • Must be a junior or senior in athletic eligibility and competed in at least 70 percent of the team’s regular season games.
  • Must play at one of the following positions: Offensive Linemen: tackles, guards, centers (tight ends are ineligible); Defensive Linemen-ends, tackles, nose guards/tackles.
  • Must be of good academic standing (eligible to compete). Ineligible players will be disqualified.
  • Must be an All-America or all-region caliber candidate (1st or 2nd team).
  • Only one nominee per institution (regardless of position).

Previous winners

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Year Player Position School
2004 Nathan Baker OL Pittsburg State
2005 Mike McFadden DL Grand Valley State
2006 Mike McFadden DL Grand Valley State
2007 Brandon Barnes OT Grand Valley State
2008 Sam Collins C Abilene Christian
2009 Ben Staggs OT West Liberty
2010 Brandon Fusco C Slippery Rock
2011 Joe Long OT Wayne State
2012 Garth Heikkinen OG Minnesota–Duluth
2013 Darius Allen DE CSU–Pueblo
2014 Darius Allen DE CSU–Pueblo
2015 Matthew Judon DE Grand Valley State
2016 Jordan Morgan OT Kutztown
2017 Marcus Martin DE Slippery Rock
2018 Markus Jones DE Angelo State
2019 Austin Edwards DE Ferris State
2020 Not awarded due to COVID 19
2021 Dylan Pasquali OT Ferris State
2022 Caleb Murphy DE Ferris State


Awards won by school

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Schools in italics are no longer Division II members.

School Winners
Grand Valley State 4
Ferris State 3
Slippery Rock 2
CSU–Pueblo 2
Abilene Christian 1
Angelo State 1
Kutztown 1
Minnesota–Duluth 1
Pittsburg State 1
Wayne State 1
West Liberty 1
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