October 2, 2008
(release courtesy of Mark Adkins, Wartburg College sports information director)

WARTBURG, IOWA . . . Wartburg College senior defensive back Marcus Hemesath of Watkins was among the National Football Foundation’s Draddy Trophy semifinalist list, released Wednesday, Oct. 1.

Hemesath was among 37 NCAA Division III student-athletes and an overall group of 164 across all divisions to be on the list. It’s the third successive season in which a Wartburg football player has been named to the select group. Former wide receiver Kyle Duchman was a Draddy Trophy semifinalist last fall as was former defensive back Nick Noble in 2006.

Hemesath, the lone Iowa Conference player to be named a semifinalist, has helped lead Wartburg to a No. 20 ranking on the current American Football Coaches Association Division III top 25 and a 3-1 overall and 2-0 Iowa Conference record. He has accumulated 22 tackles, 12 of them solo, two pass interceptions and two blocked kicks.

One of college football’s most sought after and competitive awards, the Draddy Trophy recognizes an individual as the absolute best in the country for his combined academic success, football performance and exemplary community leadership. Nominated by their schools, which are limited to one nominee each, semifinalists must be a senior or graduate student in their final year of eligibility, have a GPA of at least 3.2 on a 4.0 scale, have outstanding football ability as a first team player, and have demonstrated strong leadership and citizenship. Established to honor former NFF Chairman Vincent dePaul Draddy, a Manhattan College quarterback who founded the Izod and Lacoste brands, the award comes with a 25-pound bronze trophy and a $25,000 post-graduate scholarship.

The NFF Awards Committee will select and announce up to 15 finalists on Oct. 29. Each finalist will be recognized as part of the 2008 National Scholar-Athlete Class, receiving an $18,000 post-graduate scholarship. The overall winner, also selected by the committee, will be announced at the NFF Awards Dinner on December 9 at the Waldorf-Astoria in New York City.

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