Mount Union's Kevin Burke One of Four Candidates For 2013 Gagliardi Trophy
-By Mount Union Sports Information
COLLEGEVILLE, Minn. -- University of Mount Union junior
quarterback Kevin Burke (Westlake/Lakewood St. Edward) has been
selected as one of four finalists for the Gagliardi Trophy given to
the top all-around football player in NCAA Division III.
The trophy will be presented on Wednesday, Dec. 18, in Salem,
Va., at a banquet kicking-off a series of Division III Stagg Bowl
championship events. Burke along with the other three finalists --
McCallum Foote, quarterback - Middlebury (Vt.); Cole Klotz,
linebacker - Wisconsin-Whitewater; Octavias McKoy, running back -
Western Connecticut State; will be on hand for the banquet.
Burke is 28-0 as the Purple Raiders' starting quarterback. A
year ago, he earned All-American honors and was the OAC's Bob
Packard Offensive Back of the Year as he led Mount Union to a 15-0
record, an Ohio Athletic Conference title and a record 11th NCAA
Division III title. This season as the only returning starter on
offense, he has led an offense that is currently the nation's top
scoring offense as the Raiders are 13-0, ranked No. 1 in the
nation, won their 22nd straight OAC title and are in the national
semifinals for a 19th straight season.
This season he is the nation's No. 2 rated passer (192.3 rating)
and leads the nation with 43 touchdown passes. He has completed
63-percent of his passes (200-of-318) for 3,351 yards while he is
also the team's second leading rusher with 904 rushing yards and
eight touchdowns. His 904 rushing yards is a school single season
record for a quarterback.
For his career, he has passed for 7,196 yards with 81 touchdowns
and he has 8,962 yards of total offense (passing + rushing) which
are both fifth on Mount Union's all-time list.
Off the field, the Business Administration major, has done a
variety of service projects through Mount Union's Ralph and Mary
Regula Center of Public Service including packing and distributing
meals to needy school children, organizing a fundraiser around
Mount Union's Relay for Life event and being part of Trick or Treat
with the Raiders community event.
A record five other Purple Raiders have won the Gagliardi
Trophy. Quarterback Jim Ballard won the inaugural award in 1993,
fellow quarterback Bill Borchert in 1997, running backs Chuck Moore
and Dan Pugh won the award in 2001 and 2002, while quarterback Greg
Micheli won the award in 2008.
The Gagliardi Trophy was first presented in 1993. Since that
time, the award has become one of the leading collegiate football
awards and is widely recognized as the premier individual award in
Division III football, honoring excellence in athletics, academics
and community service. The award is named for John Gagliardi who
recently retired after coaching 64 years, 60 of those at St. John's
University in Collegeville, Minn. He is college football's all-time
wins leader with 489 victories.
Nominations for the award are made by the college president with
supporting letters and credentials provided by the head football
coach. After screening the nominations, the SJU J-Club Board of
Directors narrows the field to 10 finalists including at least one
finalist in each of the four NCAA regions.
The 35-member Gagliardi Trophy national selection committee
reviews the credentials, ranks the candidates 1-10 and casts their
votes.