Harlan Hill candidate Cory Allred

Allred a finalist for Harlan Hill Trophy

Cory Allred, a senior from Lancaster, Calif., was named the Gulf South Conference Offensive Player of the Year for the second straight season after throwing for 3,464 yards and 27 touchdowns. For his career, he threw for 7,070 yards and had 7,988 yards of career total offense.
Courtesy of Media Relations
A field of 26 candidates has been trimmed to eight national finalists in regional voting for the Harlon Hill Trophy as the NCAA Division II College Football Player of the Year.

The list of 2004 finalists is comprised of five quarterbacks, two running backs, and one wide receiver. Six of the finalists helped lead their teams into the NCAA Division II playoffs this season.

Quarterback Cory Allred of Arkansas-Monticello and Fort Valley State running back Derrick Wimbush advanced from the Southeast region. Northeast regional finalists include quarterback Marc Eddy of Bentley and quarterback Jimmy Terwilliger of East Stroudsburg. Tailback Lee Marana of Michigan Tech and wide receiver Chris Samp of Winona State advanced from the Northwest region, and quarterbacks Drew Beard of SE Oklahoma State and Chad Friehauf of Colorado-Mines were selected from the Southwest region.

The top two players from each of the Northeast, Southeast, Northwest, and Southwest regions advanced through regional voting. NCAA Division II sports information directors selected finalists in regional voting. Finalists will now be placed on the national ballot where all 156 of the division's SIDs will select the award's 19th winner. National voting will conclude Nov. 29 and the top three finishers will be invited to the Shoals for the presentation banquet.

The Hill Trophy is sponsored by Coca-Cola, the City of Florence, Ala., and Trustmark Construction. The winner of the 2004 award, presented by the National Harlon Hill Award Committee, will be announced Dec. 10 at the Harlon Hill Trophy and Division II Football Hall of Fame Banquet at the Florence Conference Center at 6:30 p.m, prior to the NCAA Division II Football Championship Game at Florence's Braly Municipal Stadium Dec. 11.

Tickets are $35 each or $280 for a table of eight and can be purchased by calling the Shoals Chamber of Commerce at (256) 764-4661.

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