COLLEGEVILLE, Minn. – On Thursday, Carleton College quarterback Jack Curtis was named as 1 of 5 finalists for the 2025 Gagliardi Trophy, which honors the most outstanding NCAA Division III football player. These five finalists were cut down from 15 semifinalists announced nearly two weeks ago.
 
The Gagliardi Trophy, presented by Stearns Bank, recognizes excellence in athletics, academics, and community service. It has been given annually since 1993 and is named after John Gagliardi, Saint John's legendary Hall of Fame head football coach who retired in 2012 with 489 career victories, the most in college football history.
 
This year's five finalists for the Gagliardi Trophy include:
Kaleb Blaha | QB | Sr. | Wisconsin-River Falls
Jack Curtis | QB | Sr. | Carleton
Bay Harvey | QB | Gr. | Johns Hopkins
Diamontie "Montie" Quinn | RB | Sr. | Curry
Albert Rundell | WR | Jr. | Bethel

Watch the 2025 Gagliardi Trophy Finalists Show

 
Curtis already made history, not only with his record-breaking play on the field, but also by being the first Carleton football player to be a semifinalist for the Gagliardi Trophy. The 2025 MIAC Offensive Player of the Year, he produced at an extremely high level on Saturday afternoons this fall despite undergoing biweekly chemotherapy throughout the season after being diagnosed with late-stage 2 "unfavorable" Hodgkin's lymphoma in June.
 
Curtis threw for 3,120 yards with 29 touchdowns as he completed 284-of-392 passes for a 72.45 percent completion rate. Curtis broke Carleton single-season records for completions, completion percentage, and passing yards and had the second-highest passing touchdown total.
 
He also broke the MIAC single-season record with 254 completions and tied the conference record with seven 300-yard passing performances in MIAC play. His 2,918 passing yards in conference games are third-most ever by a MIAC passer during league play, an impressive feat given that he also missed nearly 1.5 conference games with multiple fractures in his throwing hand and still returned to action for the season finale, throwing for 344 yards and three touchdowns against Concordia.
 
At the end of the regular season, Curtis was fourth in NCAA Division III with 28.40 completions per game, fifth in completion percentage, eighth in passing yards, ninth with 312.0 passing yards per game, 10th in passing TDs, and 11th in total offense with 316.5 yards/game. The only non-300 yard passing games of his season came against three teams currently inside D3football.com Top 15 as he threw for 204 yards at No. 11 UW-Whitewater (the most yards allowed by UWW to a non-NCAA Playoff team), 194 yards at No. 7 Saint John's (the most yards allowed by SJU to a non-NCAA Playoff team), and 22 yards at No. 4 Bethel (he removed himself early due to the hand injury).
 
Away from the field, Curtis is a physics major and completed his senior comprehensive project on "Hypersonic airflow and propulsion." He is a two-time College Sports Communicators Academic All-District honoree in football, with a third award anticipated this winter. He already owns multiple Academic All-MIAC honors for football and baseball. In the community, he has been involved with Meals on Wheels, participated in Quarterbacks vs. Cancer fundraising, served as a volunteer flag football coach, and provided toys for other cancer patients Christmas' at the Mayo Clinic.
 
The Gagliardi Trophy finalists were announced by D3football.com hosts Patrick Coleman and Greg Thomas during a live show on D3football.com. The 2025 Gagliardi Trophy winner will be revealed on D3football.com during the week of the NCAA Division III football national championship game. In the lead up to the announcement of the 2025 Gagliardi Trophy winner, D3football.com will provide updates on specific dates and times of the announcement.
 
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 which included a "fan" vote which ran until Dec. 15.