Gene Upshaw Award Finalists

GOLDEN, Colo. - Colorado School of Mines right tackle Levi Johnson is one of eight national finalists for the Gene Upshaw Award, given to Division II's outstanding senior lineman.

Johnson, a native of Arvada and product of Ralston Valley, becomes the fourth Upshaw Award finalist in program history and second in a row joining Matt Armendariz (2022), Grant Stewart (2019), and Mark Schiechl (2010).

Johnson has been a constant presence in Mines' run of success since 2021, starting 36 consecutive games at right tackle. Mines owns D-II's #1 scoring offense in 2023 at 51.5 points per game, the #2 total offense (529.2 yards per game), #6 passing offense (314.2 ypg), and #14 rushing offense (214.9 ypg), and the offensive line has allowed just 1.5 sacks per game among 424 pass snaps, and are ranked #7 in D-II in fewest tackles for loss allowed. 

Johnson has been well-awarded in his career, earning two consecutive First-Team All-RMAC awards, a 2022 Don Hansen All-America nod, and 2022 D2CCA First-Team All-Super Region 4 honor. A D2football.com Preseason Elite 100 selection this year, he protects 2022 Harlon Hill Trophy winner John Matocha, and has blocked for two 1,000-yard rushing seasons by Michael Zeman along with a pair of 2023 all-RMAC backs in Noah Roper and Landon Walker. Johnson is already a graduate of Mines, earning a degree in computer science last spring, and he is in graduate school working on a master's in data science.

This season, the Orediggers are 12-0 as they get set to play in this weekend's NCAA quarterfinal against Central Washington. Mines is ranked #1 for the first time in program history, winning its fifth consecutive RMAC title, and they have defeated four AFCA top-25 programs (including three in the top-10) this season.

The award is named for the late Gene Upshaw, an All-Pro lineman for the Oakland Raiders who later served as the executive director of the NFL Players Association for 25 years. Upshaw, a former standout offensive lineman at Texas A&I University (now Texas A&M Kingsville), was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1987 in his first year of eligibility. The award is presented by the Manheim Touchdown Club of Pennsylvania and considers senior offensive and defensive linemen and is nominated by and voted upon by D-II sports information directors.

The other finalists include, from Super Region 1, Tiffin center Shane Bumgardner and Slippery Rock offensive tackle Yuriy Hryckowian; from Super Region 2, Benedict defensive end/tackle Loobert Denelus and Wingate defensive end Marquise Fleming; from Super Region 3, Grand Valley State defensive end Christian McCarroll and Missouri Western defensive end Dakari Streeter; and joining Johnson from Super Region 4, Bemidji State offensive tackle Ty Cobb.

The winner will be announced on Dec. 4.