--- Tusculum College quarterback Bo Cordell has been named one of the 28 candidates 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 by the National Harlon Hill Award Committee. The list includes seven players from each of Division II's four Super Regions. Players are nominated and voted on by the sports information directors at the 168 NCAA II football-playing institutions. The 28 initial candidates will be placed on regional ballots and the top two players from each of the four NCAA regions will advance to the national ballot when regional voting concludes on November 22.

Cordell, a 6-0, 205-pound graduate student from Cincinnati, Ohio, is the holder of eight NCAA II records including career passing yardage (15,696), completions (1,363) and pass attempts (2,131). He is also second all-time in career total offensive yardage with 15,884, which is 180 yards shy of the DII record of 16,064 posted by 2005 Harlon Hill Trophy winner Jimmy Terwilliger of East Stroudsburg (2003-06).

In 2013, Cordell has passed for 3,351 yards while accounting for 23 touchdowns (20 pass, 3 rush). He has completed 265 of his 419 attempts through 10 games, averaging 335.1 passing yards per game, which are tops in the South Atlantic Conference and fourth in the nation. He also leads the SAC in points responsible for per game (14.2 ppg) and total offense (346.8 ypg - 1st in SAC/9th in NCAA II).

Cordell's candidacy marks only the fourth time in school history that a Tusculum player has been named a candidate for the Harlon Hill Trophy, but becomes the first Pioneer to be honored twice. In 2010, he finished fourth in the Harlon Hill Trophy national voting while leading all NCAA divisions in total offensive yards per game (425.5 ypg), passing yards per game (423.4 ypg) and completions per game (35.8 cpg).

In 2003, consensus All-American cornerback Ricardo Colclough finished fourth in the national voting, while All-American quarterback Corey Russell also finished as one of the top eight national finalists for the 2008 award.

Cordell has also shined off the gridiron as he was named to the AFCA Good Works Team® where he was one of only 22 collegiate football players recognized for community service and leadership.

Cordell graduated from Tusculum last spring and is enrolled in the College's graduate program for human resource development. This year's group of 28 candidates includes 17 quarterbacks, seven running backs, three receivers and a linebacker. There are 20 seniors, five juniors and three sophomores among this year's candidate pool.

Other Super Region 2 candidates include: Kyle Caldwell (West Alabama), Luke Charles (UNC Pembroke), Freddie Martino (North Greenville), Robbie Nallenweg (Wingate), Chris Rini (Lane) and Tavarius Wilson (North Alabama).

The winner of the 2013 award will be announced at the 28th annual Harlon Hill Trophy Presentation Banquet on Friday, December 20 at the Florence Conference Center. The NCAA Division II Championship Game is scheduled for December 21 at Florence's Braly Municipal Stadium at noon.

Tusculum (3-7, 1-5 SAC) will close out the regular season this Saturday when the Pioneers host Mars Hill (3-7, 1-5 SAC) for a 1:30 p.m. contest at the Niswonger Sports Complex / Pioneer Field.