Collegeville, Minn. - University of Wisconsin-La Crosse senior quarterback Keyser Helterbrand of Hudson (H.S.) has been named one of 20 semifinalists for the 2023 Gagliardi Trophy, an accolade presented by Stearns Bank and the J-Club of Saint John's University (Minn.) to the most outstanding football player in National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division III. 

Fifteen seniors lead the quarterback-heavy class of semifinalists. The semifinalist list also contains nominees from all six NCAA Division III regions. Multiple positions are represented: 10 quarterbacks, six defensive players, three running backs and one wide receiver. Fourteen of the 20 semifinalists participated in the first round of the NCAA Division III playoffs.

Selected the 2023 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Kwik Trip Offensive Player of the Year, Helterbrand has started all 11 games this season. He is 160-of-220 (72.7%) for 2,363 yards with 28 touchdowns and five interceptions. He has at least one touchdown pass in all 11 games, including a career-high five in UWL's 59-14 victory over UW-Eau Claire on October 27. Helterbrand also set career-highs in completions (24), attempts (26) and yards (360) in the win while also rushing for a team-high 52 yards on six carries versus the Blugolds. 

Along with being named to the 2023 All-WIAC First Team at quarterback, Helterbrand earned All-WIAC Honorable Mention at all-purpose back. He has nine games with at least two touchdown passes this season, recording 16 in the last five contests.  

He has accounted for 37 touchdowns this year, leading the Eagles in rushing attempts (127), yards (688) and touchdowns (9). Helterbrand's 3,051 total yards of offense is a single-season school record, breaking the mark of 2,896 yards set by Tarek Yaeggi in 2016.  Helterbrand's 28 passing touchdowns has tied the school record of Evan Lewandowski in 2019.

Helterbrand has four games this season with at least 100-yards rushing with a season-high 145 with one touchdown in a 31-28 win over UW-Oshkosh on October 21.  He had two rushing touchdowns in a 45-40 victory over UW-Stout on September 30 while also throwing four touchdown passes.  He finished with two rushing touchdowns and two passing touchdowns in the Eagles' 31-28 win at seventh-ranked UW-River Falls on November 4. Helterbrand is second in the WIAC this season in passing touchdowns (28) while ranking fourth in total offense (3,051) and fourth in rushing yards per game (62.5).

Helterbrand is the fourth player for UWL in the last seven years to be named a semifinalist for the Gagliardi Trophy, joining wide receivers Nick Holcomb (2017) and Cole Spieker (2019) and running back Joey Stutzman (2022). Running back John Janke (1993), quarterback Craig Kusick (1995) and wide receivers Scott Burnoski (2004) and Holcomb (2017) have been named finalists for the award. 

A finance major with a 3.55 cumulative grade point average, Helterbrand is a four-time member of UWL's Dean's List and a three-time member of the WIAC Scholastic Honor Roll. 

UWL hosts Aurora University (Ill.) in the NCAA Division III Second Round on Saturday, November 25.

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.

The Gagliardi Trophy finalists will be announced during a live show on Thursday, December 7, on D3football.com. Hosts Pat Coleman and Frank Rossi will profile the finalists during the program. The 2023 Gagliardi Trophy winner will be revealed on D3football.com during the week of the NCAA Division III football national championship on the evening of Friday, December 15. In the lead up to the announcement of the 2023 Gagliardi Trophy winner, D3football.com will provide updates on specific dates and times of the announcement.

The 2022 Gagliardi Trophy was awarded to North Central College (Ill.) senior running back Ethan Greenfield.

A record number of nominations were submitted by colleges across the country, and the semifinalists were selected by the J-Club Board of Directors. The Gagliardi Trophy national-selection committee is comprised of 18 NCAA 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. A fan vote, which runs until Saturday, December 2, will be live soon on D3football.com. No J-Club members vote as part of the national-selection committee.

Helterbrand is joined as a semifinalist with Kaleb Blaha of UW-River Falls; Egon Hein of UW-Whitewater; Justin Blazek of UW-Platteville; Kolbe Blunt of Belhaven; Tucker Horn of Trinity (Texas); Zach Boyes of Cortland State; Tomas Kenary of Middlebury; Jake Breitbach of Gustavus Adolphus; Luke Lehnen of North Central (Ill.); Brandon Cade of Berry; Braxton Plunk of Mount Union; Drew Campanale of Randolph-Macon; Luke Schuermann of Johns Hopkins; Destin Chance of Illinois College; Aaron Syveson of Saint John's; Robert Coury of Carnegie Mellon; Josh Taylor of Mount St. Joseph; Owen Grover of Wartburg and Giovanni Week of Wheaton (Ill.).