Harlon Hill Award nominees

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. - Colorado School of Mines running back Michael Zeman is one of 36 national nominees for NCAA Division II football's highest honor, the Harlon Hill Award, announced Wednesday by the Little Rock Touchdown Club and Great American Conference.

Zeman is one of seven nominees from Super Region IV and the only one from the RMAC. The top two vote-getters from each super region will advance to the national ballot after regional voting concludes Nov. 29. The winner of the Harlon Hill Award will be announced on Dec. 17.

Zeman has been Super Region IV's top running back in 2021, rushing for 1,272 yards and 17 touchdowns, both of which are best in the region. Zeman ranks sixth nationally in rushing touchdowns and 10th in yards, but his versatility in the passing game has made him one of the nation's top all-around scoring threats with his 21 total touchdowns ranking fourth in NCAA Division II. Zeman has crossed 100 yards rushing in nine of 11 games this year and is riding a six-game scoring streak into the postseason. His top single-game performances include a 159-yard, two-touchdown day against Adams State on Nov. 13, a 144-yard rushing, three-catch outing vs. Western Colorado on Oct. 2, and four total touchdowns against South Dakota Mines on Oct. 16. 

This season, Zeman has been named First-Team All-RMAC, RMAC First-Team All-Academic, and CoSIDA Academic All-District; he has also earned weekly awards from both the RMAC and NFFCC. Zeman is continuing an outstanding career after a 2019 season that saw him run for 1,421 yards and 12 touchdowns.

Mines is one of seven programs to have two different Harlon Hill Award winners, with Chad Friehauf winning in 2004 and Justin Dvorak in 2016. The award is named for the late Harlon Hill, a former University of North Alabama standout who excelled with the Lions from 1950-53 before going on to fame in the NFL with the Chicago Bears.

The Orediggers (10-1) host Bemidji State (10-2) in Saturday's NCAA Second Round at noon. BSU quarterback Brandon Alt was also short-listed for the award.