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FLORENCE, Ala. --- Tusculum College quarterback
Corey Russell finished sixth in the final voting
for the 2008 Harlon Hill Trophy, which recognizes the NCAA Division
II Football Player of the Year. Abilene Christian running back
Bernard Scott is this year's winner.
The award winner is determined in voting by the Division II sports
information directors and was presented in front of a crowd of 400
at the 23rd annual Harlon Hill Trophy award banquet at the Marriott
Shoals Conference Center in Florence, Ala.
Scott won in a landslide with 253 total points, including 66 first
place votes. North Alabama quarterback A.J. Milwee
and Mike Reilly of Central Washington tied for
second with 85 points each. Minnesota-Duluth's Ted
Schlafke was fourth with 41 points, followed by
Brad Iciek (Grand Valley State, 39 pts.), Russell
(36 pts.), Michael Washington (West Chester, 25
pts.) and Trevor Harris (Edinboro, 18 pts.).
Russell, a 6-4, 190-pound senior from Speedwell, Tenn., smashed
the record books in the finest season ever posted by a Pioneer
signal caller as he was named to the Daktronics NCAA Division II
All-America Second Team. The 2008 South Atlantic Conference
Offensive Player of the Year and Daktronics Region Player of the
Year peppered his name throughout the Tusculum, SAC and NCAA II
record books.
Russell established 15 Tusculum records this season, including a
pair of NCAA Division II bests. He recorded 300 or more total
offensive yards on 11 occasions this season, which were the best in
DII history. He recorded 674 total offensive plays, which are a new
NCAA II record. The All-SAC First Team signal caller established
league single-season records in total offensive yards (4907),
passing yards (4097) and touchdown passes (37). He also set TC
season records for completions (301) and pass attempts (505).
Russell caps one of the most successful careers in Division II
history. His 11,315 total offensive yards are the most ever by a
Pioneer, second in SAC history and ninth in NCAA II history. The
Cumberland Gap High School graduate also set career marks in pass
attempts (1382), completions (773), passing yards (9887), TD passes
(82), touchdowns accounted for (103), interceptions (49) and total
offensive attempts (1853). He also becomes the first Tusculum
quarterback to earn NCAA II All-American and All-Region honors.
The Pioneers posted a 9-4 record winning four of their last five
outings to capture TC's second South Atlantic Conference title in
five years. Tusculum also made its first-ever appearance in the
NCAA Division II Playoffs, advancing to the Final 16.
Russell and former All-American cornerback Ricardo Colclough are
the only two Tusculum players to advance to the Harlon Hill Trophy
national ballot. Colclough finished fifth in the national voting in
2003.
Russell is also the seventh player in South Atlantic Conference
history to advance as a national finalist. Lenoir-Rhyne running
back Leonard Davis was one of the final eight in 1994. Running back
Tyrone Westmoreland of Carson-Newman was a finalist for the award
in 1997 as was Wingate's Tracy Bowen. Presbyterian College
quarterback Todd Cunningham was amongst the final eight in 1999 and
again in 2001. C-N signal caller Leonard Guyton was a finalist in
2002, while Colclough advanced a year later.
- TC -
2008 Harlon Hill Trophy Voting Results
Pl. Player, School (1st place votes) Pts.
1 Ber