By Valdosta State Athletics

VALDOSTA — Valdosta State senior quarterback Sammy Edwards was named finalist for the 2024 Harlon Hill Trophy, which goes to the Division II College Football Player of the Year.

There are eight finalists, two from each of the four Super Regions, as Edwards finished third in last year’s national voting for the Harlon Hill. From Super Region Two, Edwards, along with Virginia Union running back Jada Byers, advanced to the final round.

The top-ranked Blazers host Virginia Union on Saturday at 1 p.m. at Bazemore-Hyder Stadium in the quarterfinal round of the NCAA Division II playoffs. Tickets are on sale now by calling 229-333-SEAT (7328) or online.

The NCAA Division II sports information directors selected the finalists through a round of regional voting. The eight finalists will now be placed on the national ballot where all 177 of the division’s school and conference SIDs will select the award’s 38th winner.

Edwards, a native of Saint Augustine, Florida, was named Gulf South Conference Offensive Player of the Year this season as he has guided the team to an 11-0 record this season and a berth in the second-straight NCAA National Quarterfinals.

The Blazers are the only undefeated team in NCAA Division II and one of just 13 undefeated teams in the country in all of college football. Edwards is 23-2 as a starting quarterback in two seasons as he is 12^th nationally and tops in the GSC currently in completion percentage at a .661 clip on 183 of 277 passing for 2,627 yards with 24 touchdowns and just two interceptions.

He set the GSC-record for consecutive pass attempts without an interception this season (195). Edwards is seventh nationally in passing efficiency at 172.9, while he is 15^th nationally in passing touchdowns (24) and 20^th in passing yards (2,627).

Edwards is 19^th nationally in passing yards per game at a 238.8 clip and 24^th in points responsible for (168). He is ninth nationally in yards per pass attempt at a 9.48 clip.

This season, Edwards has thrown for over 300 yards twice and registered a season-high five touchdown passes once. He has helped lead VSU to the No. 11-ranked total offense at 456.8 yards per game, while the passing offense is at 252.1 clip for 20^th nationally and the rushing offense is 14^th at 204.7 yards per game.

For his career, Edwards is fifth all-time in school history in career passing yards (6,971), while he is seventh in career completions (517 of 782) and sixth in career touchdown passes (58). He is sixth in total offense with 7,465 yards.

In Super Region One, Slippery Rock quarterback Brayden Long and Charleston (W.Va.) running back Chavon Wright advance, while Central Missouri quarterback and defending Harlon Hill recipient Zach Zebrowski, along with Ferris State quarterback Trinidad Chambliss earn spots on the national ballot from Super Region Three. In Super Region Four, Colorado State-Pueblo wide receiver Reggie Retzlaff and Angelo State quarterback Braeden Fuller advanced.

All eight finalists guided their teams to postseason play — seven to the NCAA Division II playoffs and one to a bowl game. In addition to Byers and Edwards, Chambliss and Long will compete in this weekend’s quarterfinal matchups.

In addition to Edwards, Zebrowski and Long who reached the finalist stage for a second-straight year, Byers was a finalist in 2022.

The winner of the 2024 award will be announced on Friday, Dece. 20.

The Hill Trophy is named for the late Harlon Hill, the former Florence State (now North Alabama) standout who excelled with the Lions from 1950-53 before going on to fame in the National Football League with the Chicago Bears.