Rimington Award Winners Announced for 2023.

Annual Award for the top centers in FCS, DII, DIII and NAIA.

New York, NY – Four first time selections headline this year’s winners of the Rimington Award. The Rimington award has been given for over 20 years to the top centers in the FCS, DII, DIII and NAIA divisions.

Gus Miller of South Dakota State University is the winner of the FCS Division. Miller, a junior from Brookings, S.D. was a second team All-Conference selection in the Missouri Valley Football Conference starting all 11 regular season games at center for the Jackrabbits, who allowed only eight sacks during the regular season. The Jackrabbits have advanced to the NCAA FCS National Championship game averaging 38.4 points per game and 456.1 yards of total offense. Additionally, Miller excels in the classroom as a multi-year honoree on the MVFC Academic Honor Roll.

Shane Bumgardner of Tiffin University is the winner of the DII level. Bumgardner, a senior from West Jefferson, Ohio was also an Upshaw Award Finalist for the top overall lineman in NCAA DII. He is a 2023 D2CCA All Super Region 1 first team honoree and a two-time First-Team All-G-MAC selection for the Dragons, who finished the regular season 11-0. Tiffin ranks fourth in D-II in total offense and first downs, fifth in rushing offense, and sixth in scoring offense as they won the G-MAC championship.

Jarod Thornton of North Central College is the winner for the DIII level. Thorton, a senior from Homewood, Ill. is a two-time First Team All-CCIW Conference selection as well as a two-time D3football.com All Region 5 honoree. Thorton is a four year starter for the Cardinals starting 59 total games at the center position. He was also a William V. Campbell Trophy Nominee.

Keegan Martin of Friends University is the NAIA winner of the Rimington Award. Martin, a graduate student from Yale, Okla. is a four-year AFCA All-American at center with 54 total starts at the position. Additionally, he is a four time All-KCAC Conference first team selection. Martin was 44-10 as a starter and led the NAIA’s No. 1 rushing offense. He participated in a game this season against Bethel College where his team did not attempt to pass, opting to run every play behind the Falcons offensive line.

The award winners are selected by Jason Dannelly, coordinator of the Rimington Award and longtime writer of college football in non-FBS divisions as part of the continued tradition of one of College Football’s most prestigious awards. Dannelly is the owner and founder of the Victory Sports Network and has been a member of the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA) for over 20 years.

About the Rimington Trophy

The Rimington Trophy is presented annually to the most outstanding center in NCAA Division I College Football. Since its inception, the award has raised over $4.8 million for the Boomer Esiason Foundation. The 2023 Rimington Trophy recipient will be honored in at the Rococo Theatre in Lincoln, NE on January 13, 2024. To learn more about Dave Rimington, the trophy’s namesake, and the event, please visit www.rimingtontrophy.com

The Rimington Trophy is a member of the National College Football Awards Association (NCFAA), which encompasses the most prestigious awards in college football. Founded in 1997, the NCFAA and its 25 awards now boast over 800 recipients, dating to 1935. Visit ncfaa.org to learn more about the association.

About the Boomer Esiason Foundation

In 1993, Boomer Esiason’s son, Gunnar, was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis (CF). Boomer and his wife Cheryl founded the Boomer Esiason Foundation to raise funds and awareness for the cystic fibrosis community. To date, the Foundation has raised over $160 million and works to provide educational and financial resources to help people living with CF in the here and now.