Collegeville, Minn. - University of Wisconsin-La Crosse senior wide receiver Jack Studer of Eyota, Minn. (Dover-Eyota) has been named one of 18 semifinalists for the 2024 Gagliardi Trophy-Presented by Stearns Bank to the most outstanding football player in National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division III.

Five graduate students and nine seniors lead this year's class of semifinalists. A total of eight quarterbacks are on the list as well as four running backs, two wide receivers, two linebackers, one defensive lineman and one defensive back.  The semifinalist list also contains nominees from all six NCAA Division III regions. Nearly all of the 18 semifinalists participated in at least the first round of the NCAA Division III playoffs.

Studer was named to the 2024 All-Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) First Team after leading UWL in receptions (64), yards (1,081) and touchdowns (9) this season. He led the WIAC in receiving yards and yards per catch (16.9) this year while ranking second in receiving yards per game (90.1) and third in receptions and receiving touchdowns.  

He had least four receptions in 11 of 12 games this season with at least six catches in six contests. Studer had a season-high eight receptions for 132 yards and one touchdown in UWL's 34-7 victory at UW-Eau Claire on October 19.     
 

Studer finished with at least 100-yards receiving five games this year. He had six catches for 173 yards and one touchdown in a 35-0 victory at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (N.Y.) on September 5. Studer followed with seven receptions for 154 yards and one touchdown in UWL's 35-21 win over Northern Michigan University and totaled seven catches for 111 yards and one touchdown in a 20-13 loss at NCAA Division II second-ranked Grand Valley State University (Mich.) on September 21. Studer had five receptions for 107 yards and two touchdowns in UWL's 24-21 win over UW-Whitewater on November 9. He finished his career with 13 games of at least 100-yards receiving.     

His 1,081 receiving yards this year ranks fifth in school history. Studer led UWL with 70 catches for 1,567 yards (22.4 average) and 15 touchdowns in 2023 in earning All-WIAC First Team accolades. He had eight games with at least 100-yards receiving with career-highs in receptions (10) and yards (204) with two touchdowns in a loss to top-ranked North Central College (Ill.) in the NCAA Division III Quarterfinals. Studer set a single-season school record with his 1,567 yards in 2023 while his 15 receiving touchdowns ranks second.     

Studer finishes his career as UWL's all-time leader in touchdown receptions (35) and receiving yards (3,127) while ranking second in career receptions (182).

An exercise sport science major with a 3.26 cumulative grade point average, Studer is a four-time member of the WIAC Scholastic Honor Roll. 

Studer is the fifth player for UWL in the last eight years to be named a semifinalist for the Gagliardi Trophy, joining wide receivers Nick Holcomb (2017) and Cole Spieker (2019), running back Joey Stutzman (2022) and quarterback Keyser Helterbrand. 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. 

UWL current assistant coach Michael Zweifel was named the winner of the 2011 Gagliardi Trophy while playing wide receiver at the University of Dubuque (Iowa). 

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 University (Minn.) legendary Hall of Fame head football coach who passed away at the age of 91 in 2018. He 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 19, at 3 p.m. (Central) on D3football.com. Host Pat Coleman will profile the finalists during the program. The 2024 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 2024 Gagliardi Trophy winner, D3football.com will provide updates on specific dates and times of the announcement.

The 2023 Gagliardi Trophy was awarded to North Central College (Ill.) quarterback Luke Lehnen.

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 Friday, December 13, is available at the following link. No J-Club members vote as part of the national-selection committee.

Studer is joined as a semifinalist with Brody Bantolina of Pacific University (Pa.); Zac Boyes of SUNY Cortland (N.Y.); Destin Chance of Illinois College; Robert Coury of Carnegie Mellon University (Pa.); Josh Ehrlich of Susquehanna University (Pa.); Alden Jackson of Lake Forest College (Ill.), Matt Jung of Bethel University (Minn.); Luke Lehnen of North Central College (Ill.); Jacquez Mabin of Delaware Valley University (Pa.); Nathan McCahill of DePauw University (Ind.); Charlie Patterson of Hardin-Simmons University (Texas); Jacob Pugh of Washington & Jefferson College (Pa.); Diamontie Quinn of Curry University (Mass.); Dante Aviles Santos of the University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth; Arsen Shtefan of Springfield University (Ohio); Brandt Stare of UW-Platteville and Aaron Syverson of Saint John's University (Minn.).