Le’Anthony Reasnover Announced as Gagliardi Trophy Semifinalist

COLLEGEVILLE, Minn. – Eureka College senior running back Le'Anthony Reasnover (Momence, Ill./Momence H.S.) has been selected as one of 13 semifinalists for the 2018 Gagliardi Trophy, an award presented by Jostens and the J-Club of Saint John's University (Minn.) to the most outstanding football player in NCAA Division III.

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Reasnover was voted Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference Offensive Player of the Year last week after a 2018 season in which he led the league and ranked among the national top two with 42 touchdowns and 2,187 rushing yards. He rushed for at least 125 yards and two touchdowns in 10 games, logged five 200-yard games, two 300-yard games and set the NACC single-game record with five rushing touchdowns in four consecutive outings from Oct. 6 through Nov. 3. He was a five-time NACC Offensive Player of the Week and two-time D3football.com Team of the Week selection in 2018.

The owner of 11 Eureka records, Reasnover finished his 41-game career with 6,036 rushing yards to become the 10th player in NCAA Division III history to reach the 6,000-yard plateau. He also scored 95 rushing touchdowns and his 600 career points were third-most in Division III history.

The semifinalist list contains at least two nominees from all four NCAA regions, as well as four defensive players. Ten of the thirteen participated in the first round of the Division III playoffs with five moving on to the second round this coming Saturday, Nov. 24.

The Gagliardi Trophy, given annually since 1993, recognizes excellence in athletics, academics and community service. The award is named after the late John Gagliardi, who retired from Saint John's in 2012 with 489 career victories, the most in college football history.

Four Gagliardi Trophy finalists will be released by D3football.com on Thursday, Dec. 6 in a live streaming broadcast. The winner of the 2018 Gagliardi Trophy will be announced by D3football.com on Friday, Dec. 14 prior to the Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl. 

Nominations were submitted by colleges across the country, and the semifinalists were selected by the J-Club Board of Directors. Thirteen semifinalists will now move on to the national-selection committee. In past years 10 semifinalists have been named, but additional spots were needed for 2018 based on the voting totals at the nominee stage. The Gagliardi Trophy national-selection committee is comprised of 39 former small college football players, former Gagliardi Trophy recipients, business leaders, academicians and sports writers from around the country. Each cast a ballot ranking the semifinalists. A fan vote, which will serve as the 40th committee member, is live on D3football.com and runs until Monday, Dec. 3, the same day the national-selection voting is closed.

The fan voting link is: http://www.d3football.com/gagliardi-voting