The 2024 DII football season is upon us. Before the season kicks off, let’s take a look at some players to watch that should contend for the 2024 Harlon Hill Award — the DII version of the Heisman trophy that recognizes the player of the year.
A few quick reminders before we start. First, this is not an official Harlon Hill watchlist — it’s simply a look at players I think you should have eyes on at all times this season. Secondly, this is not a definitive list by any means. Remember, the initial Harlon Hill watchlist has over 30 players and comes much later when injuries and actual stats have cumulated. As you can tell by the headline, this is roughly half of that. Will there be a player I overlooked? I’m sure, so let the debate begin.
Harlon Hill Trophy: An essential guide to the DII football award
Since the award’s inception in 1986, 21 of the 36 winners have been quarterbacks, so spoiler alert — you will see quite a few QBs in the list below. There has been just one defensive player to win the award — North Alabama’s linebacker Ronald McKinnon — but that was 30 years ago. That said, you’ll see a few defenders here as well that should make the case for being on the initial watchlist.
Here is my unofficial watchlist.
RANKINGS: The 2024 DII football preseason Power 10
15 players to watch for the 2024 Harlon Hill Trophy
Zach Zebrowski, QB, Central Missouri. Zebrowski is the reigning Harlon Hill winner, so history is against him. There have only been four repeat winners of the award, with Ferris State quarterback Jason Vander Laan the last to do it in 2014 and 2015. History will also be against him in trying to match last year’s numbers, as Zebrowski put up one of the best — if not the best —seasons in DII football history, throwing for 5,157 yards (397 yards per game) and 61 touchdowns while completing 69 percent of his passes and throwing just five interceptions. There is no reason to expect a bad season in an offense that is built for his success, but if he performs at just 80 percent of what he did, he will still be among DII leaders.
Sammy Edwards, QB, Valdosta State. Both a preseason Lindy’s All-American and member of the D2 Football Elite 100 watchlist, Edwards is a no brainer. He erupted on the scene, throwing for 4,223 yards and 34 touchdowns in his debut as a starter and added 271 yards rushing with six more touchdowns on the ground. The Blazers’ offense is a machine, and Edwards should have no problem churning out big numbers once again.
Brayden Long, QB, Slippery Rock. The Rock offense is usually one of the higher scoring in the division, and Long slipped in very nicely in his first season as a full-time starter in 2023. He threw for 3,808 yards and 35 touchdowns, and although he is not as fleet of foot as some other dual-threat quarterbacks, he did punch in five more on the ground for a total of 40 scores. With the addition of a solid running back in Idris Lawrence to take the pressure off and Rashawn Harvey at wide receiver, Long should put together another dominant season.
Kyle Walljasper, QB, Minnesota Duluth. The Bulldogs may very well be the team to beat in the NSIC and Walljasper, the first true dual-threat quarterback on the list, will be a large reason why. He broke out in 2023 both throwing for and rushing for more than 1,000 yards and posting 38 total touchdowns. He completed only 58.4 percent of his passes, but also threw a mere three interceptions to his 22 touchdown passes. With many of his weapons back, if he can improve his completion percentage, he may put up even bigger numbers in 2024.
Jada Byers, RB, Virginia Union. Byers is arguably the most dominant running back in the division. With the ability to make people miss and a strong offensive line up front, if Byers is healthy, he is very capable of a 2,000-yard season. That was not the case last season; however, despite an injury-riddled campaign, he still ran for north of 1,200 yards and scored 16 touchdowns and now has 47 in three seasons. With a nose for the end zone, Byers could very well be a Harlon Hill finalist as he was two years ago.
Blake Delacruz, RB, Harding. The Harding Bisons love to run the football and Delacruz led the way last season. At 5-8 and 205 pounds, he is an ideal fit in head coach Paul Simmons’ Flexbone offense. There are a lot of mouths to feed in the Harding backfield, but the Bisons showed last year they are more than capable of sharing the load and Delacruz rumbled to more than 1,500 yards and 21 rushing scores, tied for the second-most in the division.
Kendel Givens, RB, Ouachita Baptist. Givens was tied with Delacruz with 21 rushing touchdowns, giving him his second 20-touchdown season in three years. One of the most prolific scorers in DII since his freshman debut, Givens is the focal point of the offense and is coming off his best season, rushing for 1,227 yards, reeling in 218 yards through the air and totaling 25 scores… giving him 62 in three seasons. Givens should put up huge numbers yet again.
Chavon Wright, RB, Charleston (WV). Wright played just three games in 2022 so was a relative unknown heading into 2023… and he is widely known now. Wright powered the Charleston offense last year, rushing for 1,518 yards and 20 touchdowns as the team improved from 6-5 in 2022 to 10-2 and winning their first-ever DII tournament win. Wright is an explosive back with a 40-time listed around 4.5 seconds, so when he gets through the tackles, watch out.
Max McLeod, WR, Colorado School of Mines. Yes, John Matocha is gone, but McLeod is still one of DII football's best wide receivers. Evan Foster looks good under center, and that's more reason to constantly pepper his alpha receiver with an abundance of targets. McLeod led DII in receiving yards a season ago and is the active career leader in receiving touchdowns with 44, having never scored fewer than 10 touchdowns in any season of his career.
Gage Florence, WR, MSU Moorhead. Jack Strand is back under center for the Dragons and Florence was his favorite target last year. If Strand is the NSIC preseason player of the year, his top dog should have a tremendous season. Florence was very good last year, reeling in 996 yards and nine scores, but he should easily eclipse those numbers in 2024.
Yogi Flager Jr., AP, McKendree. Flager never got going in 2023, playing just five games, but don’t sleep on him in 2024. In his previous full season, Flager led the GLVC in receiving yards and touchdowns. He also happens to be a lethal punt returner and has appeared on kickoff returns as well, making him an all-purpose nightmare. He’s a dark horse, but definitely one to watch.
De... Fense! De… Fense!
- Tanner Volk, DB, Central Washington. Volk may be the best defender in the division coming off a 2023 in which he won the Cliff Harris Award (small college defender of the year), was a Harlon Hill Award finalist and won numerous defensive player of the year honors including D2 Football and Don Hansen.
- Jamae Blank, DL, UNC Pembroke. Blank transferred into UNC Pembroke last season and became MEC co-defensive player of the year. He set the school record with 12.5 sacks and 21.5 tackles for a loss while recovering three fumbles and swatting six passes.
- Marquise Fleming, DL, Wingate. Fleming was the DII sack leader in 2023 with 14 propelling him to the active sack career sack leader with 30. He also added 22.5 tackles for a loss and is a complete menace to quarterbacks in the backfield.
- Andre Jefferson, DL, Lenoir-Rhyne. Jefferson is a beast, already on the 2024 Reece’s Senior Bowl watchlist. He recorded his second-straight 13-sack season in 2023 and is right behind Fleming as the DII active career sack leader with 29.
Five more that you should watch every week
- Jack Strand, QB, MSU Moorhead
- Jariq Scales, Southern Arkansas
- Marcellous Hawkins, Central Missouri
- Tyler Kahmann, WR, Emporia State
- Erick Willis III, WR, Cal (PA)
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