The group of 2003 finalists  is comprised of five quarterbacks, one running back, one defensive back and one linebacker.  Three of the finalists have helped lead their teams into the first round of the NCAA Division II playoffs this weekend.  Also advancing from the South region is  Tusculum defensive back Ricardo Colclough.  Advancing from the Northeast region are linebacker Dan Holland of  Mansfield and quarterback Mark Radlinski of  Saginaw Valley State.  Quarterback  Keith Heckendorf of  St. Cloud State  and tailback  Justin Kammrad of Nebraska-Omaha advanced from the Midwest region,  and quarterbacks Cliff Watkins of Tarleton State and Drew Beard of SE Oklahoma State were selected from the West region.

The selection of Holland and Colclough as finalists marks just the second time in the 18-year history of the Hill Trophy that two defensive players made the Top 8. There had previously only been five defensive finalists, with North Alabama linebacker Ronald McKinnon as the only defensive player to win the Hill Trophy (1995).  The Hill Trophy is sponsored by Coca-Cola, the City of Florence, Ala., and Trustmark Construction.  Candidates for the 2003 Hill Trophy were nominated by the sports information directors at their respective schools and those nominations were then reviewed by the Hill Regional Advisory Committees, which trimmed the list of candidates to no more than six per region.  National voting will conclude on December 2 and the top three finishers will be invited to the Shoals for the presentation banquet.  The winner of the 2003 award, which is presented by the National Harlon Hill Award Committee, will be announced at the Harlon Hill Trophy and Division II Football Hall of Fame  Banquet on Friday, December 12 in Florence, prior to the NCAA Division II Football Championship Game on Dec. 13.  Tickets are $35 each or $280 for a table of eight and can be purchased by calling the Shoals Chamber of Commerce at (256) 764-4661.  

Beard, a junior from Rush Springs, Okla., ranks seventh nationally in total offense with 306.6 yards per game and was named All-Lone Star Conference and LSC North Division Offensive Back of the Year. He is also fifth nationally in passing efficiency, completing 118 of 228 passes for 2,279 yards and 23 touchdowns. He has also rushed for 787 yards and eight scores.  

Colclough, a senior defensive back and return specialist from Sumter, South Carolina, ranked nationally in interceptions, punt returns and kickoff returns and helped lead Tusculum to a 9-2 record this season.  He has 11 interceptions and 59 tackles on defense and has averaged 14.2 yards on punt returns and 29.1 yards on kickoff returns.  

Hall, a senior from Amory, Miss., finished the regular-season as the top passer in the NCAA Division II and has led North Alabama to a perfect 11-0 record, No. 2 national ranking and into the Division II playoffs. Hall has completed a remarkable 70.1 percent of his passes this season while throwing for 2,586 yards and 23 touchdowns.  

Heckendorf, a  senior from Mosinee, Wisc., finished third in the 2002 Hill Trophy voting and has been a four-year starter at St. Cloud State.  He has thrown a touchdown pass in 22 straight games and threw for 2,905 yards and 30 touchdowns this season. He ranks 11th nationally in total offense (289.9) and 18th in passing efficiency. Academically, he is a National Football Foundation Scholar-Athlete award recipient.  

Holland, a  senior from Scranton, Pa., ranks third nationally in solo tackles and sixth in total tackles while leading Mansfield to one of the best seasons in school history. He leads the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference in both categories with 76 primary stops and 132 total tackles, while adding eight tackles for loss and two sacks. He has been among the national tackle leaders four straight years and has received numerous previous school, conference and national awards.  

Kammrad, a  senior from Council Bluffs, Iowa, leads Division II in rushing this season with an average of 169.2 yards per game. He rushed for a school-record 1,866 yards this season with 10 straight 100-yard games and four straight 200-yard games. He also  ranks fifth in all-purpose yards (174.8) and scored 14 touchdowns.   

Radlinski, a   junior from Caledonia, Mich., has helped lead Saginaw Valley State to a perfect 11-0 record and into the NCAA Division II playoffs this season. He ranks eighth in passing efficiency and 17th in total offense with 276 yards per game. He has completed 215 of 350 passes for 2,920 yards and 30 touchdowns.

Watkins, a senior from Breckenridge, Texas, has helped lead Tarleton State into the playoffs while throwing for 3,335 yards and 29 TDs. He ranks ninth nationally in total offense (302.8) and 17th in passing efficiency. He leads the nation's top passing attack and threw for 300+ yards in his last six games, including a career-high 448 yards in a game.  

The initial Harlon Hill Trophy was won by North Dakota State quarterback Jeff Bentrim in 1986, followed  by  Texas A&M-Kingsville runningback Johnny Bailey - in 1987, 1988 and 1989.  Another North Dakota State quarterback, Chris Simdorn, claimed the 1990 award, followed by Pittsburg State receiver Ronnie West in 1991, Pittsburg State running back Ronald Moore in 1992, New Haven running back Roger  Graham in 1993 and Valdosta State University quarterback Chris Hatcher in 1994. North Alabama linebacker Ronald McKinnon became the first defensive player to win the award when he claimed the Hill Trophy in 1995. Truman State University running back Jarrett Anderson won the 1996 award and Bloomsburg University running back Irvin Sigler claimed the Hill Trophy in 1997 award. Running back Brian Shay of Emporia State won in 1998, followed by Northern Colorado quarterback Corte McGuffey in 1999 and Valdosta State quarterback Dusty Bonner in 2000 and 2001. Grand Valley State quarterback Curt Anes won the 2002. award

2003 HARLON HILL TROPHY FINALISTS
Finalist Cl. Pos. School Hometown
Drew Beard JR QB SE Oklahoma State Rush Springs, Oklahome
Ricardo Colclough SR DB Tusculum Sumter, South Carolina
Will Hall SR QB North Alabama Amory, Mississippi
Keith Heckendorf SR QB St. Cloud State Mosinee, Wisconsin
Dan Holland SR LB Mansfield Scranton, Pennsylvania
Justin Kammrad SR TB Nebraska-Omaha Council Bluffs, Iowa
Mark Radlinski JR QB Saginaw Valley State Caledonia, Michigan
Cliff Watkins SR QB Tarelton State Breckenridge, Texas