Manheim, Pa.----The eight national finalists have been announced for the prestigious Gene Upshaw Award, and Wingate University defensive end Marquise Fleming is one of the finalists. The Gene Upshaw Award, presented by the Manheim Touchdown Club, is presented annually to the Division II senior lineman of the Year. Fleming is the only player in the country to be a finalist for this award while also being named a nominee for the Harlon Hill Award.

Two finalists from each of NCAA Division II's four super regions were voted upon by sports information directors around the country. The winner will be voted upon by sports information directors from across Division II and announced Dec. 4. All nominees are seniors or graduate players/transfers and are lineman on either side of the ball at either offensive tackle, guard, or center; or defensive tackle, guard, or end.

Fleming earned first team All-SAC honors for the Bulldogs in 2023, while being named the league's Defensive Player of the Year. He is the fourth Bulldog to take home Defensive Player of the Year accolades in the last seven seasons. Fleming helped Wingate go 8-3 on the season, as the 'Dogs hit the eight-win mark for the seventh straight year. Fleming and the Bulldogs once again ranked among the nation's best statistically on the defensive side.

Fleming leads the nation with his 14 sacks, averaging a nation's-best 1.27 sacks per game. He ranks fifth in the nation with 22.5 tackles for loss, collecting a pair of tackles for loss per game. Fleming led the Bulldogs with 63 tackles, adding three forced fumbles to go along with seven QB hurries. He had at least one TFL in eight of 11 games, with at least one sack in six contests. Fleming had four multi-sack contests, while collecting three or more TFLs five times.

The eight finalists came from a group of 29 nominees. The award is named in honor of the late Mr. Upshaw, who was not only an All-Pro lineman for the Oakland Raiders, but later served as the executive director of the NFL Players Association for 25 years. Upshaw, a former standout offensive lineman at Texas A&I University (now Texas A&M Kingsville), was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1987 in his first year of eligibility. The award is presented annually by the Manheim Touchdown Club.

2023 Gene Upshaw Award Nominees and Finalists

Super Region 1 (GMAC, MEC, NE10, PSAC)
Shane Bumgardner - C – Tiffin (FINALIST)
Yuriy Hryckowian - OT - Slippery Rock (FINALIST)
Nehemiah Cannon - OG – Ashland
McLean Djouha - Indiana (Pa.)
Michael Jerrell - OT – Findlay
Deshawn McCarthy - DE - East Stroudsburg
Eddie Miller-Garrett - DE - Ohio Dominican
Randy Robinson - DT - Fairmont St.

Super Region 2 (CIAA, GSC, SAC, SIAC)
Loobert Denelus - DE/DT – Benedict (FINALIST)
Marquise Fleming - DE – Wingate (FINALIST)
Jacob Bruce - OT - West Florida
Devonchae Bryant - OT - West Alabama
Tyler Fleming - OT/G/C - Fayetteville St.
Devin Hannan - OT - Valdosta St.
Andre Jefferson - DT - Lenoir-Rhyne
Keshawn Jennings - OG - Delta St.

Super Region 3 (GAC, GLIAC, GLVC, MIAA)
Christian McCarroll - DE - Grant Valley St. (FINALIST)
Dakari Streeter - DE - Missouri Western (FINALIST)
Kednal Alexis - OG – Indianapolis
Zac Henson - OT - Ouachita Baptist
Olalere Oladipo - DE - Ferris St
Tell Spies - DT - Nebraska-Kearney
David Tabakovic - DE – Quincy
Hunter Willis - OG – Harding

Super Region 4 (LSC, NSIC, RMAC)
Ty Cobb - OT - Bemidji St. (FINALIST)
Levi Johnson - OT - Colorado School of Mines (FINALIST)
Treyvon Cahalan- C - Minnesota-Duluth
Tristan Rael - OG - CSU Pueblo
Mark Simon II - DT - New Mexico Highlands