LITTLE ROCK, ARK. — West Liberty University’s Cam Rice, a redshirt-sophomore defensive lineman from Morgantown, is one of 38 athletes nationwide to be nominated for the Harlon Hill Trophy as the NCAA Division II College Football Player of the Year. Of the 38 nominees, Rice and nine others hail from Super Region 1.

This season Rice was named All-MEC First Team, earned three MEC Defensive Player of the Week accolades, and was once named the D2Football.com National Defensive Player of the Week. While totaling 58.0 tackles on the year he also made his presence known in the backfield all season long as he notched 23.5 tackles-for-loss and NINE sacks. He led DII in tackles-for-loss and tackles-for-loss per game (2.4) and is tied for 13th in the nation in sacks per game (0.90) while tying for 17th in the country in total sacks. He posted career-highs of 10.0 tackles, 4.5 tackles-for-loss (three times), and three sacks during the year. In addition, he forced four fumbles, blocked two kicks, and intercepted two passes, returning both picks for touchdowns in the season finale against Wheeling.

The sports information directors at the 161 NCAA Division II football-playing institutions nominate and vote on the award. The 38 initial candidates will be placed on regional ballots and the top two players from each of the four NCAA regions will advance to the national ballot when regional voting concludes Monday.

The Hill Trophy is named for the late Harlon Hill, a former University of 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.

The winner of the 2023 award will be announced Dec. 15 and the winner will be honored at the Little Rock Touchdown Club awards banquet Jan. 12.