ACU’s season may have come to an end, but the accolades for two players have not. Both Mitchell Gale and Trevis Turner have been named national finalists for two of the nation’s most respected Division II awards.
Gale is a finalist for the Harlon Hill award, given to the Division II Player of the Year. Turner has been nominated as one of eight finalists for the Gene Upshaw award named after the late executive director of the NFL Players’ Association.
“I think always great when you have students achieve at that level,” said ACU athletic director Jared Mosley. “Most of all its great to see those guys recognized for the hard work they put in.”
Turner started all 12 games for the Wildcats this season, anchoring a line that allowed less than two sacks per game and averaged over 150 yards rushing per game. A native of DeSoto, Turner played just three seasons for ACU after transferring from fellow Lone Star Conference school Northeastern State. Last season Turner was named to the Lone Star Conference South all-conference team, and in 2008 he was named to the LSC South second all-conference team.
ACU has had one previous winner of the award, which was founded in 2004. Sam Collins, currently an assistant with the ACU Wildcats, was the winner of the award in 2008.
Mitchell Gale has moved on to the national ballot for the Harlon Hill Award, given to the best player in Division II as voted by the sports information directors of the 150 football competing schools in Div. II. Gale had an amazing year on paper, breaking Billy Malone’s record for touchdown passes in a season with 38. Gale also finished the season ranked in the top five in the nation in passer efficiency, a stat that measures completion percentage versus interceptions and touchdowns thrown.
“It’s a big honor,” said Gale. “But it would have been really great if I could get to to there with all my teammates.”
Gale is just one of three underclassmen to make it to the final nine in 2010. Joining him is fellow sophomore Bo Cordell, quarterback from Tusculum, and freshman Franklyn Quiteh, running back from Bloomsburg. The winner of the 2010 Harlon Hill Trophy will be named Dec. 17, in Florence, Ala.
