Manheim, Pa. - University of Findlay senior
Yoesph Carter has been named as a nominee for the prestigious Gene Upshaw DII Lineman of the Year Award as announced by the Manheim Touchdown Club on Nov. 29.
Carter, the Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC) Co-Offensive Lineman of the Year, started every game at right guard for the Oilers this year and was essential in protecting the quarterback and blocking for a rushing attack that put up 136 yards per game. Expectations for the Cincinnati, Ohio native were high at the beginning of the year as he was tabbed as a Preseason Top 100 (All-American) player by D2Football.com. The grad student delivered, leading the way in the trenches for an offense that put up nearly 400 yards of offense per game and scored 32 points per game, second-best in the G-MAC.
The Gene Upshaw Division II Lineman of the Year Award is voted on by NCAA Division II sports information directors. Nominees must be seniors or graduate student-athletes playing as offensive or defensive linemen (tackle, guard, center, defensive tackle, defensive guard, or defensive end).
Two finalists from each of the four super regions will advance to the national ballot, with the finalists announced on Dec. 4. The winner will be revealed on Dec. 12.
Named in honor of Gene Upshaw, the award celebrates the legacy of the former All-Pro lineman for the Oakland Raiders and longtime executive director of the NFL Players Association. Upshaw, a standout offensive lineman at Texas A&I University (now Texas A&M Kingsville), was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1987.
Super Region 1 Nominees (GMAC, MEC, NE10, PSAC)
- Nick Affholter (OC) – Hillsdale
- Jaheim Bassham (OC) – California (Pa.)
- Yoesph Carter (OG) – Findlay
- Raymond Christas (OC) - East Stroudsburg
- Todd Hill (DE) – Slippery Rock
- Jack Quander (DT) – New Haven
- Austin Spille (DE) – Saint Anselm
- Jake Tarburton (DE) – Clarion
Super Region 2 Nominees (CIAA, GSC, SAC, SIAC)
- Issac Anderson (DE) – Virginia Union
- Jaelon Brown (OG) – Delta State
- Marquise Fleming (DE) – Wingate
- Will Flowers (OC) – Valdosta State
- Trevon Lambert (DE) – West Alabama
Super Region 3 Nominees (GAC, GLIAC, GLVC, MIAA)
- Aaron Barnett (DE) – Indianapolis
- Brandon Bishop (OT) – Henderson State
- Gabe Brown (OT) – Grand Valley State
- Gabe Clark (OT) – Central Missouri
- CeDarrion Crooks (OG) – East Central
- Quillan Felton (DE) – Nebraska Kearney
- Jake Fisher (DE) – Northwest Missouri State
- Cole Littrell (OG) – Missouri S&T
- Myles Menges (DE) – Fort Hays State
- Victor Nelson (DT) – Ferris State
- Gage Price (NT) – Harding
Super Region 4 Nominees (LSC, NSIC, RMAC)
- Jake Gannon (OC) – Bemidji State
- Jett Janssen (OT) – Wayne State (Neb.)
- David Ma'ake (OG) – Eastern New Mexico
- Hunter O'Connor (DE) – Chadron State
- Makeah Scippio (DE) – CSU Pueblo
- Nic Van de Graaf (OT) – Colorado School of Mines
- Aiden Williams (OT) – Minnesota Duluth
