WEST HAVEN, Conn. – After accounting for more than 30 of the Chargers 44 total touchdowns in 2021, graduate transfer quarterback Connor Degenhardt (Westford, Mass./Westford Academy) has been selected as one of eight nominees from Super Region 1 for the 2021 Harlon Hill Trophy as the Division II College Football Player of the Year.
A total of 36 players across the four Super Regions make up the ballot which begins with the initial candidates placed on regional ballots. From there, the top two players from each of the four NCAA regions will advance to the national ballot when regional voting concludes. The winner of the 2021 award will be announced on Friday, December 16 and the winner will be honored at the Little Rock Touchdown Club awards banquet on January 13, 2022.
Additionally, Degenhardt is one of 13 quarterbacks among the 36 nominees, which also includes 10 running backs, six wide receivers, five linebackers, one defensive lineman and one corner back. Among the eight nominees from Super Region 1, Degenhardt is one of two quarterbacks from the region, joined by Shepherd junior Tyson Bagent. Both Degenhardt and Bagent led their respective squads to the Division II Playoffs with the Chargers falling to Kutztown in the regional semifinal, while Bagent advanced his Shepherd team to a date with Kutztown for the Super Region 1 Championship on Saturday, December 4.
The Harlon Hill Trophy is named for the late Harlon Hill, the former University of North Alabama standout who excelled with the Lions from 1950-53 before going on to game in the National Football League with the Chicago Bears.
Degenhardt closed out his first season wearing the Blue and Gold connecting on 59% of his pass attempts (166-of-280) for 2,122 yards while throwing just four interceptions across 12 outings. Among his 166 completed passes were 18 touchdowns, two of which for more than 70 yards with both of those falling into the hands of transfer wide receiver Dev Holmes (Troy, N.Y./Troy).
In addition to his passing game, Degenhardt ran for a team-best 15 scores, while racking up 161 yards on 84 rushing attempts. All 15 of his rushing TD's came in the redzone as he capped off numerous drives that set the Chargers up inside the 20 courtesy of more than 1,500 yards racked up by Zach Mauro (Woodbury, Conn./Nonnewaug), Jake Conlan (West Haven, Conn./Trinity-Pawling) and Shamar Logan (Brooklyn, N.Y./Erasmus Hall High School). His 15 rushing touchdowns ranks as the sixth most in a single season at New Haven, while it is tied for ninth most in total touchdowns scored.
