Senior offensive tackle Joey Fisher (Hagerstown, Md./Clear Spring) of the Shepherd University football team has been named one of nine national finalists for the 2022 Gene Upshaw Division II Lineman of the Year Award, presented by the Manheim Touchdown Club.
The award is voted on by the nation's NCAA Division II sports information directors. Two finalists advanced from each of the four NCAA Division II super regions to a national ballot. All nominees must be seniors or graduate players/transfers.
Fisher is a key in Shepherd's record-setting offense. He has drawn the attention of numerous NFL teams and became the first Shepherd player to be invited to the Hula Bowl All-Star Game this season. He helps Shepherd rank first in completion percentage (718) and first in first downs offense (294). The Rams also rank fourth in passing offense (326.7) and sixth in scoring offense (40.8).
Joining Fisher from Super Region One is defensive end D.J. Adediwura of Slippery Rock. Other invitees include offensive tackle Nicolas Melsop of Delta State and offensive guard Dalton Simpler from West Florida out of Super Region 2; offensive tackle Quinton Barrow of Grand Valley State, defensive end Elijah Green of Northwest Missouri
State, and defensive end Caleb Murphy of Ferris State from Super Region 3; and center Matt Armendariz of Colorado School of Mines and defensive end Zollie Kaplan of Bemidji State from Super Region 4. Three finalists advanced from Super Region 3 due to a tie in voting.
All nine finalists are still playing as their teams made it to this Saturday's NCAA Championship Second Round, and there will be three match-ups of finalists as Delta State plays West Florida, Grand Valley State plays Northwest Missouri State, and Shepherd plays Slippery Rock. The group is made up of four defensive players - all defensive ends - and five offensive linemen with three tackles, a guard, and a center. Three of the finalists - Adediwura, Green, and Murphy - also appeared on the nominees list for the Harlon Hill Award, given to NCAA Division II's best overall player, announced earlier this week.
The national round of voting begins on Friday, Nov. 25, and closes on Friday, Dec. 2. The winner will be announced on Monday, Dec. 5. The award recipient has the invitation to participate in front of professional scouts and coaches at the East-West Shrine Bowl in Las Vegas, Nev. The winner will also be recognized at the Manheim Touchdown Club's annual banquet.
The NFL recognizes, endorses, and supports the winner of the award by guaranteeing a place in the all-star games. The support comes as recognition and appreciation for 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.
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