FLORENCE, Ala. -- Record-breaking SBU quarterback Steve Gachette is one of 24 candidates for the 2009 Harlon Hill Trophy, which honors the nation's top Division II football player.

Gachette, a junior from Lehigh Acres, holds 15 school records including single game, season and career marks for attempts, completions, passing yards, touchdown passes, and total offense. Gachette has thrown for 2606 yards and 23 touchdowns. In addition to his passing, he's also the leading rusher for SBU with 812 yards on 125 carries with eight touchdowns. One of the nation's leaders in total offense, Gachette currently ranks fifth with 342 yards per game. He's also led the Bearcat offense to a national ranking of ninth in total offense. The Bearcats look for their first winning season since 2001 when they host Missouri S&T.

The list of candidates was announced Thursday by the National Harlon Hill Award Committee. The list includes six players from each of Division II's four Super Regionals.

Players are nominated and voted on 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.

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 Conference Center at 6:30 p.m. This year's Hill Trophy Banquet will also include the eleventh induction into the Division II Football Hall of Fame, with Shannon Sharpe becoming the 25th inductee.

Tickets are $50 each or $400 for a table of eight and can be purchased by calling the Shoals Chamber of Commerce at (256) 764-4661.

The NCAA Division II Championship Game is scheduled for December 12 at Florence's Braly Municipal Stadium at noon. The Hill Trophy is sponsored by the City of Florence, Ala., Florence-Lauderdale Tourism, Opti-Net, the Marriott Shoals Hotel and Spa and Herff Jones.

2009 Harlon Hill Trophy Candidates

SUPER REGIONAL 1 Pos. Ht Wt Cl School Hometown
Zach Amedro QB 6-0 190 JR West Liberty Moundsville, W.V.
Michael Harris SE 6-1 192 SR Shippensburg East Earl, Pa.
Trevor Harris QB 6-2 215 SR Edinboro Waldo, Ohio
Alfonso Hoggard RB 5-4 150 JR Clarion Philadelphia, Pa.
A.J. Jackson WR 6-6 230 SR California, Pa. Lehigh Acres, Fla.
Thomas Mayo WR 6-2 184 SO Concord Reston, Va.

SUPER REGIONAL 2 Pos. Ht Wt Cl School Hometown
Harrison Beck QB 6-2 220 SR North Alabama Claerwater, Fla.
Alex Good QB 6-0 185 SR Carson-Newman Greensboro, N.C.
Nick Graziano QB 6-1 227 SR Arkansas Tech Moraga, Calif.
Lardester Hicks-Green LB 6-1 235 SR Delta State Chicago, Ill.
Demetrice Johnson RB 5-11 210 SR Albany State Atlanta, Ga.
Jonas Randolph RB 5-10 185 SO Mars Hill Daleville, Ala.

SUPER REGIONAL 3 Pos. Ht Wt Cl School Hometown
Joique Bell RB 6-1 223 SR Wayne State (Mich.) Benton Harbor, Mich.
Billy Cundiff QB 6-2 218 SR Ashland Uniontow, Ohio
Brad Iciek QB 6-1 200 SR Grand Valley State Grandville, Mich.
Logan Masters WR 6-3 185 SR Wayne State (Neb.) Storm Lake, Iowa
Isaac Odim RB 6-0 215 JR Minnesota-Duluth Rochester, Minn.
David Pesek QB 6-3 210 SR Colorado-Mines Centennial, Colorado

SUPER REGIONAL 4 Pos. Ht Wt Cl School Hometown
LaRon Council RB 5-10 210 SR Northwest Missouri St. Kansas City, Mo.
Zack Eskridge QB 6-4 215 JR Midwestern State Rowlett, Texas
Steve Gachette QB 6-1 180 JR Southwest Baptist Lehigh Acres, Fla.
Billy Garza QB 6-1 235 SR Texas A&M-Kingsville Brownsville, Texas
J.J. Harp QB 6-2 180 SO Eastern New Mexico Argyle, Texas
Drew Newhart QB 6-0 200 JR Missouri Western Cameron, Missouri

For more on the Harlon Hill trophy, visit www.harlonhill.com.