Aurora University senior quarterback Gavin Zimbelman, from Manteno High School, was named a finalist for the 2021 Gagliardi Trophy, the premier individual award in NCAA Division III Football.
Jostens and the J-Club of Saint John’s University (Collegeville, Minn.) presents the Gagliardi Trophy. The 2021 finalists were announced by d3football.com for the annual award Thursday, Dec. 9. The winner of the 2021 Gagliardi Trophy will be announced by D3football.com Friday, Dec. 17, as part of Stagg Bowl pregame coverage followed by the game between North Central College of Naperville and Mary Hardin-Baylor in Canton, Ohio.
With the announcement, Zimbelman becomes a two-time finalist for the prestigious Gagliardi Trophy, having been a finalist following the 2019 season. The 2021 season has seen Zimbelman garner a lengthy list of accomplishments, having been selected as a second-team all-region quarterback by D3football.com, the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference Offensive Player of the Year and first-team all-conference. Zimbelman was the first Aurora University player to advance to the semifinal or final stage of the Gagliardi award process in 2019 and adds to that accomplishment with this second selection.
On the 2021 season, Zimbelman completed 219-of-370 passes for 3,065 yards and ranking among an NCAA Division III-best 46 touchdowns. Zimbelman threw for five or more touchdowns in seven of 10 regular-season games. He finished the season with a 59.2 completion percentage, a 165.5 passing efficiency and 278.6 yards per game. He helped lead AU to the 2021 NACC championship, a third straight, and an appearance in the Division III football championship for a second consecutive season.
—Aurora University