EUBANKS, SCOTT AND WOODHEAD INVITED TO HARLON HILL BANQUET AS TOP THREE FINISHERS

FLORENCE, Ala. --  The voting has concluded for the NCAA Division II College Football Player of the Year Award, and while the results of that voting won't be announced until December 14, three players have received invitations to attend the 22nd Annual Harlon Hill Trophy Presentation Banquet for the naming of the top player in Division II.

Senior linebacker Michael Eubanks of Delta State University, junior running back Bernard Scott of Abilene Christian University and senior running back Danny Woodhead of Chadron State College (Neb.) have emerged as the top three vote-getters from a field of nine finalists in voting by the sports information directors at the 150-plus schools that compete in Division II football and the Division II conference sports information directors.

The Hill Trophy is sponsored by Coca-Cola, the City of Florence, Ala.,  Trustmark Construction, the Marriott Shoals Hotel and Spa, Opti-Net and Herff Jones.

Candidates for the 2007 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.

National voting concluded on  November 30  and  the   top three finishers are invited to the Shoals for the presentation banquet. The winner of the 2007 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 14 in Florence, prior to the NCAA Division II Football Championship Game on Dec. 15.

Tickets are $45 each or $360 for a table of eight and can be purchased by calling the Shoals Chamber of Commerce at (256) 764-4661.

Other finalists for the 2007 award were senior running back Jamar Brittingham of Bloomsburg University, senior wide receiver Weston Dressler of the University of North Dakota, sophomore quarterback Brad Iciek of Grand Valley State University, junior quarterback David Knighton of Harding University, junior quarterback A.J. Milwee of the University of North Alabama and senior running back Dervon Wallace of Shepherd University.

Eubanks, a senior from Cleveland, Miss., set the all-time Division II career record for quarterback sacks with 39 for 249 yards. He ranks third all-time in Division II history in career tackles for loss with 70.5 for 355 yards. He led one of the nation's top defensive units this season with 90 tackles, 12 sacks and 27 tackles for loss. He also helped lead Delta State to a 10-2 record that included a Gulf South Conference Championship and a spot in the quarterfinals of the NCAA playoffs. His tackles for loss ranked second nationally this season. He is just the second defensive player to ever finish in the top three in the Hill Trophy voting. The other is the 1995 winner, Ronald McKinnon of North Alabama.

Scott, a junior from Vernon, Texas, set NCAA Division II records for touchdowns scored in a season (39), rushing touchdowns in a season (35) and points scored in a season (234). He rushed for 2,165 yards in 2007 and went over 100 yards in a game 11 times. He set the school's single-game rushing record with 303 yards against Chadron State and he scored three or more touchdowns in a game nine times and had six TDs in two games.  Scott is just the second Hill finalist from Abilene Christian. Rex Lamberti finished seventh in the 1993 voting.

Woodhead, a  senior from North Platte, Neb., won the 2006 Hill Trophy and is trying to become the third person in the award's 22-year history to be named national player of the year twice.  Woodhead finished his career as the leading rusher in the history of college football with 7,962 yards, and he ranks second all-time in all divisions in all-purpose yardage with 9,479. His 109 career touchdowns ties the NCAA record and his 654 career points ranks second all-time.  This season Woodhead rushed for 1,876 yards and 24 touchdowns and added 53 pass receptions for 562 yards and three scores. He accounted for more than 180 all-purpose yards per game.  Woodhead has been a Hill candidate four straight years and is the third different player from his school to be a Hill finalist. David Jones tied for sixth in 1990 and Matt Strand was eighth in 2001.

The initial Harlon Hill Trophy was won by North Dakota State quarterback Jeff Bentrim in 1986, followed  by  Texas A&M-Kingsville running back 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, and Grand Valley State quarterback Curt Anes in 2002.  The 2003 trophy was awarded to North Alabama quarterback Will Hall, Chad Friehauf of the Colorado School of Mines won the 2004 award and Jimmy Terwilliger  of East Stroudsburg claimed the 2005 Hill Trophy as a junior.

2007 HARLON HILL TROPHY FINAL THREE

Finalist                Pos.  Ht    Wt    Cl    School            Hometown

Michael Eubanks         LB    6-2   225   SR    Delta State   Cleveland, Miss.

Bernard Scott                 RB    5-11  220   JR    Abilene Christian     Vernon, Texas

Danny Woodhead          TB    5-9   200   SR    Chadron State      North Platte, Neb.