Gene Upshaw Award
The Gene Upshaw Award is awarded to the best lineman, offensive or defensive, in NCAA Division II college football. The award is presented by the Manheim Touchdown Club and is recognized by the National Collegiate Athletic Association.
The award is named after former NFL offensive lineman Gene Upshaw, who played college football at Texas A&I University and later for the Oakland Raiders in the NFL. He was inducted into both the College Football Hall of Fame and Pro Football Hall of Fame.Criteria
- Must be a junior or senior in athletic eligibility and competed in at least 70 percent of the team’s regular season games.
- Must play at one of the following positions: Offensive Linemen: tackles, guards, centers ; Defensive Linemen-ends, tackles, nose guards/tackles.
- Must be of good academic standing. Ineligible players will be disqualified.
- Must be an All-America or all-region caliber candidate.
- Only one nominee per institution.
Awards won by school
Schools in italics are no longer Division II members.
| School | Winners |
| Grand Valley State | 4 |
| Slippery Rock | 2 |
| CSU–Pueblo | 2 |
| Abilene Christian | 1 |
| Angelo State | 1 |
| Kutztown | 1 |
| Minnesota–Duluth | 1 |
| Pittsburg State | 1 |
| Wayne State | 1 |
| West Liberty | 1 |
