Ford Named a Regional Finalist for Harlon Hill

Sophomore running back Daiquone Ford made the first cut on his path towards earning the most prestigious individual award in NCAA Division II football as he was announced as a Super Region 4 finalist for the Harlon Hill Trophy on Nov. 14.

Ford is one of six finalists among Super Region 4 schools for the award. A total of 28 players, seven from each of the four football regions, are on the initial Harlon Hill ballot.  Players will be voted on by the sports information director at each NCAA Division II football-sponsoring institution.  The top two vote-getters from each region will then advance to the national ballot.

The finalists for Super Region 4 are listed below:

Chris Bonner, Jr, QB, Colorado St.-Pueblo
Glen Clinton, Sr, RB, Chadron St.
Daiquone Ford, So, RB, Findlay
Keidrick Jackson, Sr, RB, Midwestern St.
Jonathon Jennings, Sr, QB, Saginaw Valley St.
Jason Vander Laan, So, QB, Ferris St.
Dustin Vaughan, Sr, QB, West Texas A&M

The complete group of 28 candidates from the four regions includes 17 quarterbacks, seven running backs, three receivers and a linebacker. There are 20 seniors, five juniors and three sophomores, which includes Ford.

Ford rushed for 1,789 yards and 24 touchdowns in ten games this year before an injury cut his season short.   The Myrtle Beach, S.C. native averaged 178.9 rushing yards per game and averaged 5.7 yards per carry.  He also added 16 receptions for 141 yards.

Ford currently leads the nation with his 24 rushing touchdowns and is ranked second nationally in rushing yards per game.  His 193.0 all-purpose yards per game is also the ninth best total in the nation.

The sophomore back ran for over 100 yards in nine games this season and set new school records with 44 carries for 317 yards in the Oilers 48-27 win over Lake Erie College on Oct. 27.

Ford becomes the second Oilers player to make the regional ballot as Robert Campbell also did so in 2002.

The trophy, which is 30 inches tall and weighs 63 pounds, has been given to the most valuable NCAA Division II player in the nation each year since 1986.  The winner of the 2013 award will be announced on Dec. 20 at the Florence Conference Center in Florence, Ala.

For the complete Harlon Hill release, please click here