COLLEGEVILLE, Minn. – Owen Grover has been named one of five finalists for the 2023 Gagliardi Trophy presented by Stearns Bank and the J-Club of Saint John's University (Minn.) to the most outstanding football player in NCAA Division III, the J-Club announced today.

Grover is the second individual from the Wartburg football program to be named a finalist, as Matt Sacia advanced to the final round twice in 2017 and 2018.

This award recognizes the most outstanding football player. These five finalists were selected from 20 semifinalists that were announced two weeks ago.

The Gagliardi Trophy, given annually since 1993, is awarded to the most outstanding NCAA Division III football player and recognizes excellence in athletics, academics and community service. The award is named after John Gagliardi, Saint John's legendary Hall of Fame head football coach who passed away at the age of 91 in 2018. John retired in 2012 with 489 career victories, the most in college football history.

2023 Gagliardi Trophy Finalists, presented by Stearns Bank:
Jake Breitbach WR Senior Gustavus Adolphus
Owen Grover LB Senior Wartburg
Tucker Horn QB Senior Trinity (Texas)
Luke Lehnen QB Junior North Central (Ill.)
Braxton Plunk QB Senior Mount Union

The five finalists include two outstanding athletes who will square off against each other this weekend in a NCAA Division III semifinal - Owen Grover of Wartburg and Luke Lehnen of North Central.

The Gagliardi Trophy finalists were announced by D3football.com hosts Pat Coleman and Frank Rossi during a live show on today (Thursday, Dec. 7) on D3football.com. The 2023 Gagliardi Trophy winner will be revealed on D3football.com during the week of the NCAA Division III football national championship on the evening of Friday, Dec. 15. In the lead up to the announcement of the 2023 Gagliardi Trophy winner, D3football.com will provide updates on specific dates and times of the announcement.

A record number of nominations were submitted by colleges across the country, and the semifinalists were selected by the J-Club Board of Directors. The Gagliardi Trophy national-selection committee is comprised of 18 Division III coaches (three from each NCAA Region), six Division III administrators (one from each region), 12 regional notable voters (two from each region) and six national voters with Division III backgrounds. No J-Club members vote as part of the national-selection committee.