COLLEGEVILLE, Minn. – Bethel junior wide receiver Albert Rundell and Carleton senior quarterback Jack Curtis are among the 15 semifinalists for the 2025 Gagliardi Trophy, presented by Stearns Bank, the Saint John’s University J-Club announced on Friday.
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The Gagliardi Trophy, given annually since 1993, is awarded to the most outstanding NCAA Division III football player and recognizes excellence in athletics, academics, and community service. The award is named after John Gagliardi, Saint John's legendary Hall of Fame head football coach who passed away at the age of 91 in 2018. John retired in 2012 with 489 career victories, the most in college football history.
Curtis (Charlotte, N.C./Ardrey Kell) is the Knights’ first-ever Gagliardi Trophy semifinalist. The 2025 MIAC Offensive Player of the Year, Curtis had a record-breaking senior season despite undergoing biweekly chemotherapy throughout the season after being diagnosed with late-stage 2 "unfavorable" Hodgkin's lymphoma in June. He finished the season 284-for-392 for 3,120 yards with 29 touchdowns, breaking Carleton's single-season records for completions, completion percentage, and passing yards. He also broke the MIAC single-season record with 254 completions, and tied the MIAC record with seven 300-yard passing performances in conference play. His 2,918 passing yards in conference games are the third-most ever by a MIAC passer during league play, an impressive feat given that he also missed nearly 1.5 conference games with multiple fractures in his throwing hand. Away from the field, Curtis is a physics major and completed his senior comprehensive project on "hypersonic airflow and propulsion." In the community, he has been involved with Meals on Wheels, participated in Quarterbacks vs. Cancer fundraising, served as a volunteer flag football coach, and provided toys for other cancer patients’ Christmas festivities at the Mayo Clinic.
Rundell (Watertown, Minn./Watertown-Mayer) has totaled 105 receptions for 1,489 yards and 21 touchdowns through 11 games played in 2025. His receiving yardage total leads all levels of college football, while his 21 touchdown grabs rank second in NCAA Division III, and his 9.55 receptions per game rank third. Rundell’s MIAC-record 21 receptions and five touchdown grabs highlighted the Royals in their victory over Carleton on November 8. Rundell finished that game with 214 yards receiving, his second-highest single-game yardage total for the season. He set a program record with 246 receiving yards on 11 catches in a victory over St. Olaf on October 18.
The Gagliardi Trophy national-selection committee is comprised of 18 Division III coaches (three from each NCAA Region), six Division III administrators (one from each region), 12 regional notable voters (two from each region), and six national voters with Division III backgrounds. A fan vote, which runs until Dec. 15, is live now on D3football.com. No J-Club members vote as part of the national selection committee.
The Gagliardi Trophy finalists will be announced during a live show at 4 p.m. ET Thursday, Dec. 19, on D3football.com. Host Pat Coleman will profile the finalists during the program. The 2025 Gagliardi Trophy winner will be revealed on D3football.com during the week of the NCAA Division III football national championship game.
The 2025 Gagliardi Trophy semifinalists include:
| 2025 Gagliardi Trophy Semifinalists |
| Name |
Class |
Position |
Institution |
| Robby Ballentine |
Sr. |
WR |
DePauw |
| Connor Barry |
Jr. |
QB |
Christopher Newport |
| Kaleb Blaha |
Sr. |
QB |
UW-River Falls |
| Kyle Brown |
Sr. |
QB |
Hardin-Simmons |
| Jack Curtis |
Sr. |
QB |
Carleton |
| Josh Ehrlich |
Sr. |
QB |
Susquehanna |
| Mark Forcucci |
Sr. |
QB |
Wheaton |
| Bay Harvey |
Sr. |
QB |
Johns Hopkins |
| Gary Lewis |
Sr. |
WR |
Franklin and Marshall |
| Montie Quinn |
Sr. |
RB |
Curry |
| Albert Rundell |
Jr. |
WR |
Bethel |
| Nick Semptimphelter |
Sr. |
QB |
John Carroll |
| Thomas Skokna |
Sr. |
WR |
North Central |
| Tyler Szalkowski |
Sr. |
QB |
Utica |
| Eddie Williams |
Sr. |
RB |
Alma |
Five MIAC players have won the Gagliardi Trophy since its inception in 1993. That list includes Saint John’s wide receiver Chris Palmer (1995), Augsburg wide receiver Scott Hvistendahl (1998), Saint John’s wide receiver Blake Elliott (2003), Saint John’s linebacker Carter Hanson (2016), and Saint John’s quarterback Jackson Erdmann (2018).
| All-Time Gagliardi Trophy Winners From The MIAC |
| Name |
Year |
Position |
Institution |
| Chris Palmer |
1995 |
WR |
Saint John's |
| Scott Hvistendahl |
1998 |
WR |
Augsburg |
| Blake Elliott |
2003 |
WR |
Saint John's |
| Carter Hanson |
2016 |
LB |
Saint John's |
| Jackson Erdmann |
2018 |
QB |
Saint John's |
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