Gene Upshaw Award nominees

GOLDEN, Colo. - Colorado School of Mines left tackle Nic Van de Graaf is one of 31 nominees for the Gene Upshaw Award, given annually to the best senior lineman in NCAA Division II.

Van de Graaf was a 2024 First-Team All-RMAC honoree starting all 11 games for the Orediggers at left tackle. The team captain was a 2024 D2football.com Elite 100 Watchlist Squad member and Lindy's Preseason All-American, and ended his career as a four-time all-RMAC selection. His 51 career starts are the second-most ever by an Oredigger and most by a lineman, and he blocked for three Harlon Hill finalists in his career: RB Michael Zeman (2021 finalist) and QB John Matocha (2022 winner and 2023 runner-up). 

Van de Graaf is the latest in a string of Oredigger linemen to be up for the award; Levi Johnson was the program's first-ever Upshaw Award winner in 2023 and Matt Armendariz was a finalist in 2022. 

The Upshaw Award is nominated and voted on by the nation's NCAA Division II sports information directors. Two finalists will advance from each of the four super regions to a national ballot. The winner will be announced Dec. 12. All nominees must be seniors or graduate players/transfers and are lineman on either side of the ball at either offensive tackle, guard, or center; or defensive tackle, guard, or end.

The award is named in honor of the late Mr. Upshaw, who was not only an All-Pro lineman for the Oakland Raiders, but 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 annually by the Manheim Touchdown Club of Pennsylvania.