COLLEGEVILLE, Minn. | Quarterback Hayden Bauserman has been announced as a finalist for the 2018 Gagliardi Award.
The Gagliardi Award, the "D3 Heisman" and named after Hall of Fame coach John Gagliardi, encompasses athletics, academics and community service.
Bauserman is the first SU player to be named as finalist for the award. The 2018 award winner will be announced by D3football.com on Friday, December 14th prior to the Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl in Shenandoah, Texas.
A 3.47 student as an environmental science major, Bauserman earned first team All-ODAC honors in each of the past three seasons and was the J. Stokely Fulton Offensive Player of the Year in 2018.
The Woodstock, Virginia native led the nation this season with 355 completions in 555 attempts for 3832 yards and 43 touchdowns. He was a three-time ODAC Player of the Week honoree, named second team All-Region by D3football.com, the TD Club of Richmond Offensive Back of the Year, and announced earlier today as a finalist for the Lanier Award as the top NCAA Division II/III/NAIA player in the commonwealth of Virginia.
Bauserman finished his career with 1093 completions in 1768 attempts for 12475 yards and 132 touchdowns. That last mark leads all active NCAA players.
Off-the-field, he is a six-time Athletics Director's List honoree, been named ODAC All-Academic three times and Academic All-State twice.
His community service includes serving as a reader in local elementary schools and with the American Red Cross.
Bauserman is joined as finalist by Lamar Carswell from Trine (Ind.). Jackson Erdmann from St. John's (Minn.) and Matt Sacia from Wartburg (Iowa). Sacia was a 2017 finalist as well.
"What an outstanding honor for Hayden," head football coach Scott Yoder said. "He has been an outstanding leader for us on- and off-the-field for his entire career and he truly deserves this honor. We are so proud to see him recognized."
--- Parts of this release were provided by the J-Club of St. John's University and Jostens. Those two groups are the presenting sponsors of the Gagliardi Award. The remainder is material from Shenandoah University sports information. ---