Concord’s Thomas Mayo is one of 24 candidates in the running for the 2009 Harlon Hill Trophy as the NCAA Division II College Football Player of the Year.
The list of candidates was announced Thursday by the National Harlon Hill Award Committee in Florence, AL. The list includes six players from each of Division II’s four Super Regionals.
Mayo, a sophomore wide receiver from Reston, VA, leads the nation and the West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference in total receiving yards (1266) and receiving yards per game (126.6).
Mayo has set a Concord single-season record for receiving yardage, breaking the mark of 1214 set by Ryshaune Ward in 2003. Mayo’s 2009 also ranks among the top ten single-season performances in WVIAC history.
Mayo is the first Concord player to become a Harlon Hill regional finalist.
Mayo has eclipsed the 100-yard mark in six of Concord’s ten games this season. Against Lenoir-Rhyne on September 5, he set a school single-game record for receiving yards (253) and tied the record for receptions (16). He scored three touchdowns, including the game-winner in overtime in CU’s 52-45 victory.
Mayo’s other highlights include:
Six receptions, 200 yards, one TD (covering 67 yards) at Glenville State October 10
Seven receptions, 165 yards, two TDs (including an 86-yarder) vs West Virginia Wesleyan September 12
Five receptions, 154 yards, one TD (including an 80-yarder) vs Seton Hill October 17
Three catches, 152 yards, two TDs at Southern Virginia (including a 77-yarder) August 29
Nine catches, 120 yards vs Shepherd October 3
“It’s a great honor for Thomas, and a great honor for Concord,” said Mountain Lions head coach Mike Kellar. “It’s nice to see him get national recognition for the season that he’s had.”
“Thomas has had a tremendous season, and he’s only a sophomore,” said CU Wide Receivers coach Jason Woodman. “He’s still a young player. Hopefully this will give him and everyone else incentive to get even better.”
Mayo is one of six finalists from the NCAA’s Super Region One, which includes the WVIAC, the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference, the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association and the Northeast 10.
Other Super Region One finalists are: Zach Amedro, QB, West Liberty State; Michael Harris, SE, Shippensburg; Trevor Harris, QB, Edinboro; Alfonso Hoggard, RB, Clarion; A.J. Jackson, WR, California University of Pennsylvania.
Concord concludes its 2009 season with a visit to WVIAC champion West Liberty State on Saturday, November 7. Kickoff is scheduled for 1:00 pm EST at Russek Field.
The game will be broadcast on Classic Rock 102 The River (WMTD 102.3 FM), with streaming audio available at theriver102.com. The radio broadcast begins with the “Mountain Lion Preview Show” at 12:30 pm
Players are nominated and voted on for the Harlon Hill Award by the sports information directors at the 148 NCAA Division II football-playing institutions. The 24 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 on November 13.
There were 38 candidates initially nominated by the sports information directors at their respective schools and those nominations were then reviewed by the Hill Regional Advisory Committees, which trimmed the list of candidates.
The winner of the 2009 award, which is presented by the National Harlon Hill Award Committee, will be announced at the 24th annual Harlon Hill Trophy Presentation Banquet on Friday, December 11 at the Florence (AL) Conference Center at 6:30 p.m.
The NCAA Division II Championship Game is scheduled for December 12 at Florence’s Braly Municipal Stadium at noon.