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Nick Semptimphelter vs. RMC
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Nick Semptimphelter Chosen as a Semifinalist for the 2025 Gagliardi Trophy

| By: Joe Ginley '16, SID

The star QB is just the third Blue Streak in program history to be considered for the award

COLLEGEVILLE, Minn. – A John Carroll star is in the running for one of the most prestigious honors in NCAA Division III Football.

In the midst of a historic season, the Blue Streaks' quarterback is one of 15 student-athletes across NCAA D-III to be so recognized. 

Nick Semptimphelter is a semifinalist for the 2025 Gagliardi Trophy, Presented by Stearns Bank.

Blue Streak fans can vote for Semptimphelter here

As the Saint John's University J-Club's release states, "The Gagliardi Trophy, given annually since 1993, is awarded to the most outstanding NCAA Division III football player and recognizes excellence in athletics, academics and community service. The award is named after John Gagliardi, Saint John's legendary Hall of Fame head football coach who passed away at the age of 91 in 2018. John retired in 2012 with 489 career victories, the most in college football history."

Semptimphelter is enjoying a memorable campaign for John Carroll. The graduate student leads all divisions of the NCAA with a remarkable 81.6% completion rate. No quarterback in the NCAA has ever finished with a completion percentage above 80%.

The Tennessean's calling card is efficiency but his bag of tricks is deep. Semptimphelter can hit deep balls, too, as evidenced by his other stats. Semptimphelter's 30 passing touchdowns rate third in a single-season in JCU history, only one behind Tom Arth's 31 in 2000. Semptimphelter has thrown for 2,796 passing yards this year, ranking sixth in program history, just four yards behind Moeglin in fifth-place (2016).

The veteran QB is in his second season as a starter and has led JCU to back-to-back NCAA Playoff appearances. The Blue Streaks had only achieved that feat once before in program history. Thanks to Semptimphelter's leadership, JCU is making its ninth postseason appearance in program history, set to face Mount Union on Saturday in Alliance. 

A First Team All-North Coast Athletic Conference selection, Semptimphelter was also a semifinalist for the National Football Foundation's 2025 Campbell Trophy®.

JCU has had two finalists over the years in QB Doug Phillips (2005) and Hall of Fame linebacker London Fletcher (1997). 

As for the release states, "The Gagliardi Trophy national-selection committee is comprised of 18 Division III coaches (three from each NCAA Region), six Division III administrators (one from each region), 12 regional notable voters (two from each region) and six national voters with Division III backgrounds. The winner of the D3football.com voting will receive the fan vote. 

As for announcing the finalists, The Gagliardi Trophy finalists will be announced during a live show at 4 p.m. ET Thursday, Dec. 18, on D3football.com. Host Pat Coleman will profile the finalists during the program. The 2025 Gagliardi Trophy winner will be revealed on D3football.com during the week of the NCAA Division III football national championship game. In the lead up to the announcement of the 2025 Gagliardi Trophy winner, D3football.com will provide updates on specific dates and times of the announcement.
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