Caldwell makes Harlon Hill cut

FLORENCE, Ala. – West Alabama quarterback Kyle Caldwell is one of 28 candidates still in the running for the 2013 Harlon Hill Trophy as the NCAA Division II College Football Player of the Year.

The list of candidates was announced Thursday morning by the National Harlon Hill Award Committee and includes seven players from each of the four Division II Super Regions.

The sports information directors at their respective schools initially nominated candidates and those nominations were then reviewed by the Hill Regional Advisory Committees, which trimmed the list of candidates.

The group of 28 candidates includes 17 quarterbacks, seven running backs, three receivers and a linebacker. There are 20 seniors, five juniors and three sophomores.

Caldwell leads the Gulf South Conference in passing yards (2,061), passing yards per game (206.1), pass efficiency (176.7), total offense (248.9) and passing touchdowns (23). The junior from Dadeville, Ala., directs the GSC’s top scoring offense (45.3) and 5th-best scoring offense in Division II.

The winner of the 2013 award, which is presented by the National Harlon Hill Award Committee, will be announced at the 28th annual Harlon Hill Trophy Presentation Banquet on Friday, Dec. 20 at the Florence Conference Center at 6:30 p.m.

Tickets are $50 each or $400 for a table of eight and can be purchased by calling the Shoals Chamber of Commerce at (256) 764-4661.

The NCAA Division II Championship Game is scheduled for Dec. 21 at Florence’s Braly Municipal Stadium at noon.

The Hill Trophy is sponsored by the City of Florence, Ala., Florence-Lauderdale Tourism, Opti-Net, the Marriott Shoals Hotel and Spa and Herff Jones.