Little Rock, Ark.----Wingate University junior running back
Xavier Pugh is one of the 36 nominees for the prestigious Harlon Hill Award, which is presented annually to the top player in all of NCAA Division II football. A total of eight nominees hail from Super Region 1, eight from Super Region 2, eight from Super Region 3 and 12 from Super Region 4 have been nominated for the top honor in D2 football.
Pugh helped lead the Bulldogs to another impressive season, going 9-3 overall and 7-2 in the SAC. The 'Dogs earned a bid to the NCAA play-offs for the sixth time in the last eight years, earning hosting duties for the second straight season. Pugh helped Wingate rank second in the conference in scoring and total yards, averaging 36.6 points per game and 428.8 yards.
Pugh had a historic season for the Bulldogs. He piled up 1,008 rushing yards on the year, scoring 21 touchdowns. The 21 touchdowns are three more than any other player in Wingate history. He ranks second in the nation in rushing touchdowns, total touchdowns and total points scored. Pugh averaged 5.1 yards per carry and 91.6 yards per contest. He also had 18 receptions for 188 yards.
Pugh scored a touchdown in 10 of 11 games in 2025, scoring multiple touchdowns seven times. He scored three TDs in four separate contests. Pugh went for 106 yards and a TD in the season opener, while notching 115 yards and three touchdowns on 11 carries against Bluefield State. Pugh had 115 yards and three scores at Newberry, adding five catches for 38 yards. He piled up 164 yards and three more touchdown against Catawba to go along with two receptions for 43 yards. Pugh had 99 yards and a pair of scores at Anderson. He scored two more TDs at Tusculum, while closing out the year with three touchdowns against Mars Hill.
The sports information directors at the 159 NCAA Division II football-playing institutions nominate and vote on the award. The 36 initial candidates will be placed on regional ballots and the top two players from each of the four NCAA regions will advance to the national ballot when regional voting concludes on Monday, December 1.
The sports information directors at their respective schools initially nominate candidates. The SIDs in those Super Regions vote for their top five candidates. The winner is then determined in a nationwide vote of the Division II sports information directors.
The group of 36 candidates includes 16 quarterbacks, 10 running backs, three wide receivers, three linebackers, a defensive linemen, a safety, a tight end and a punter/kicker. The list features 20 seniors, 11 juniors and two sophomores and three freshmen. The winner of the 2025 award will be announced on Friday, December 19.
The 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 fame in the National Football League with the Chicago Bears.
2025 Harlon Hill Award Nominees
| Super Region 1 |
|
|
|
| Curtis Allen |
RB |
Sr. |
Virginia Union |
| Jamieson Alston |
LB |
Sr. |
Winston-Salem State |
| Leonard Farrow |
RB |
Jr. |
Fairmont State |
| JayJay Jordan |
RB |
Jr. |
Slippery Rock |
| Jay Kastatin |
QB |
Jr. |
Assumption |
| Judd Novak |
QB |
Jr. |
Kutztown |
| Jackson Ostrowsky |
QB |
Sr. |
Lock Haven |
| Matthew Rueve |
QB |
Sr. |
Indiana (Pa) |
| |
|
|
|
| Super Region 2 |
|
|
|
| Preston Brown |
QB |
Sr. |
Catawba |
| Reed Charpia |
QB |
Sr. |
Newberry |
| Domonique Davis |
LB |
Sr. |
Central State |
| Fabian Duncan |
RB |
So. |
Allen |
| Jordan Jackson |
RB |
Sr. |
Emory & Henry |
| Isaiah Knowles |
QB |
Sr. |
Albany State |
| Xavier Pugh |
RB |
Jr. |
Wingate |
| Marcus Stokes |
QB |
So. |
West Florida |
| |
|
|
|
| Super Region 3 |
|
|
|
| Luke Dehnicke |
TE |
Fr. |
Minnesota Duluth |
| Noah Dobert |
RB |
Fr. |
Northern Michigan |
| Dawson Forgy |
RB |
Jr. |
Wayne State (Neb.) |
| Dylan Hair |
QB |
Jr. |
Truman State |
| Mante Morrow |
WR |
Sr. |
Upper Iowa |
| Michael Shimek |
DE |
Sr. |
Ashland |
| Jack Strand |
QB |
Sr. |
Minnesota State-Moorhead |
| Gavin Sukup |
QB |
Sr. |
Indianapolis |
| |
|
|
|
| Super Region 4 |
|
|
|
| Jay Todd Baker |
K |
Jr. |
Southern Arkansas |
| TJ Chukwurah |
WR |
Jr. |
Black Hills State |
| Andrew Edwards |
QB |
Sr. |
Henderson State |
| Tristan Exline |
LB |
Jr. |
UT Permian Basin |
| Jeffrey Jones |
RB |
Fr. |
New Mexico Highlands |
| Will Lester |
S |
Sr. |
South Dakota Mines |
| Kennedy McGill |
QB |
Jr. |
Central Washington |
| RJ Martinez |
QB |
Sr. |
West Texas A&M |
| Andrew Miller |
RB |
Jr. |
Harding |
| Drew Nash |
QB |
Sr. |
Western Colorado |
| Reggie Retzlaff |
WR |
Sr. |
CSU Pueblo |
| Jack Turner |
QB |
Sr. |
Texas A&M-Kingsville |
