Griffon senior defensive end David Bass has been selected as a finalist for the 2012 Gene Upshaw Division II Lineman of the Year Award. Bass is the first Griffon to be named a finalist since the inception of the award in 2004. Regional voting narrowed a field of 46 candidates to eight finalists with Bass being the lone defense player in the field. All eight of this year’s award finalists play for teams that reached the NCAA Division II Playoffs and six are set to play in the quarterfinals this weekend.

The award is sponsored by the Manheim Touchdown Club and voted upon by the nation’s NCAA Division II sports information directors. Two finalists advance from each of the four NCAA Division II super regions.

Representing Super Region 1 are Bloomsburg’s junior offensive lineman Brian Clarke and Winston-Salem State senior center Markus Lawrence. Super Region 2 finalists are Valdosta State senior offensive tackle Ryan Schraeder and Carson-Newman’s senior center Kevin Day. Advancing from Super Region 3 are Missouri Western State’s senior defensive end David Bass and Minnesota Duluth’s senior offensive lineman Garth Heikkinen. Super Region 4 is represented by West Texas A&M’s senior left tackle Manase Foketi and Ryan Jensen, a senior right tackle at Colorado State University-Pueblo.

The national round of voting closes on Dec. 10 and the winner is announced on Dec. 17. The award recipient has the opportunity to participate in one of two prestigious college all-star games in front of professional scouts and coaches. The East/West Shrine Game and the NFLPA All-Star Game are both scheduled for Jan. 19.

The winner will also be recognized at the Manheim Touchdown Club’s annual banquet in May.

The NFL recognizes, endorses and supports the winner of the award by guaranteeing a place in the all-star games. The support comes as recognition and appreciation for 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 2007 in his first year of eligibility.

FINALIST INFORMATION
David Bass (St. Louis, Mo.) has helped Missouri Western State to its first MIAA outright regular season championship with six consecutive wins over top 25 teams. He’s recorded a sack in nine of the Griffons’ 13 games, ranks 14th in Division II and first in the MIAA in sacks per game (0.8 per game). His 12.5 tackles for loss boosted his career total to a school record 52.5. He is also set the school record with 39.5 career sacks. He had 11 tackles against Minnesota Duluth, helping the Griffons to their first NCAA playoff win. He was All-MIAA First Team in 2012 and was an All-America selection by six different organizations in 2011.

Brian Clarke (Hanover, Pa.), an All-PSAC East First Team selection for the second consecutive year, paved the way for Harlon Hill finalist Franklyn Quiteh and the nation’s fifth-ranked rushing offense (315.75 yards per game). Clarke’s Huskies set the PSAC single-season rushing record with 3,789 yards, and Quiteh led the nation in rushing. Clarke’s offensive line became the first in PSAC history to produce two 1,000-yard backs in back-to-back seasons. His unit surrendered just two sacks in Bloomsburg’s final seven games and ranked seventh in the nation with 0.67 sacks per game.

Kevin Day (Soddy-Daisy, Tenn.) was the center for the nation’s best rushing offense. The Eagles averaged an astounding 380 yards per game, which was second only to Georgia Southern among all NCAA schools. He also helped the Eagles generate 50 rushing touchdowns, which led all NCAA schools regardless of division. He was a two-time All-SAC selection.

Manase Foketi (Hesperia, Calif.) has been a dominating left tackle for West Texas A&M, which has reached the NCAA Quarterfinals for the first time in school history. He graded out at 95 percent in all of the team’s games and helped the Buff’s offense gain 345.15 passing yards per game and 485.0 yards per game. That total ranks eighth. He also blocks for Dustin Vaughan, who is a Harlon Hill finalist and ranks seventh nationally in total offense.

Garth Heikkinen (Duluth, Minn.) started in a Minnesota-Duluth record 53 consecutive games—a number unmatched by any current NCAA Division II lineman. He attained All-America status from four different groups in 2011 and was a key to the Bulldogs’ fourth-ranked scoring offense (45.7 points per game) and 10th-ranked rushing offense. He did not surrender a single sack the entire season, and the team allowed only six through 11 games. His team reached the NCAA playoffs, won the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference North Division and was ranked in the top 10 of every AFCA poll during the season.

Ryan Jensen (Fort Morgan, Colo.) anchors the offensive line for the nation’s No. 1-ranked team. Colorado State University-Pueblo won its second straight Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference title and is currently in the NCAA Quarterfinals. He has graded over 90 percent for the season and did not allow a single sack. Despite injuries to the running back position, he blocked for four different 100-yard rushers during the season. He was a Don Hansen Football Gazette Second Team pick in 2011.

Markus Lawrence (Charlotte, N.C.) is the center for the nation’s No. 2 team in Winston-Salem State. The Rams have won back-to-back CIAA Championships with the All-CIAA First Team pick snapping the ball. With Lawrence on the line, the Rams led the CIAA in total offense, scoring offense, passing offense and passing efficiency. It also ranked in the top 10 nationally in total offense, scoring offense and passing efficiency. Lawrence’s Rams are unbeaten and playing in the NCAA Quarterfinals this weekend.

Ryan Schraeder (Wichita, Kan.) protects the blindside for a Valdosta State team that is playing in the NCAA Quarterfinals and boasts the nation’s No. 13 offense and seventh-best scoring offense. He graded out at 96 percent on the year and totaled 56 knockdown blocks in 11 games. With his blocking, Valdosta State is on the verge of setting five school records, including three in the run game. He did not play football until college but is a three-time first team All-America selection in three seasons.

The Griffons are 12-1 on the season and travel to Mankato, Minn. to take on the Minnesota State-Mankato Mavericks on Saturday, December 1 in the Super Region 3 Final. Kickoff is set for 12:00 pm from Blakeslee Stadium.

— MWSU Sports Information —