Complete List of Nominees
FLORENCE, Ala. (Nov. 20, 2014) - Less than 24 hours removed from being tabbed as the Northeast-10 Conference's Most Valuable Player, LIU Post red-shirt senior quarterback
Steven Laurino (Boise, Idaho) was listed as one of 11 Super Region One finalists for the prestigious Harlon Hill Award on Thursday.
The Harlon Hill Trophy is presented annually to the top collegiate football player in Division II. The roster of names being considered for the honor is pooled from each of the four Division II Super Regions.
The student-athletes are nominated and voted upon by the sports information directors at the 168 Division II football-playing institutions. The 36 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 Nov. 28.
Laurino has led the Pioneers to their first outright NE-10 title and NCAA Tournament bid since 2005. He is presently closing in on 10,000 passing yards all-time (9,277), and has already shattered four career program records at LIU Post (passing yards, total offense, pass completions and touchdown passes).
This year, the Boise native boasts an impressive 61.0 pass completion percentage (288-of-472) with 3,305 yards and 28 touchdowns. He has also rushed for a team-leading 602 yards and 18 scores.
Laurino, a five-time NE-10 Offensive Player of the Week selection, currently spearheads all of Division II in points responsible for (282.0) and points responsible for per game (25.6). Furthermore, he ranks fourth in total offense (355.2), sixth in completions per game (26.1), ninth in rushing touchdowns, 11th in passing yards, 12th in scoring (10.4), and 16th in passing yards per game (300.5) and passing touchdowns.
The winner of the 2014 Harlon Hill Trophy will be announced on Friday, Dec. 19 via webcast, and honored at a luncheon at the University of North Alabama on Jan. 9, 2015.
Laurino and the Pioneers begin their run towards an NCAA Division II National Championship on Saturday (Nov. 22), when they face Virginia State in an opening-round match-up in Petersburg, Va. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m.