COLLEGEVILLE, Minn. -- Washington & Jefferson College quarterback Jacob Pugh (Jefferson Hills, Pa./Thomas Jefferson) has been announced as one of the 18 semifinalists for the 2024 Gagliardi Trophy, an award presented by Stearns Bank and the J-Club of Saint John's University (Minn.) to the most outstanding football player in NCAA Division III.

The Gagliardi Trophy, given annually since 1993 is awarded to the most outstanding NCAA Division III football player and recognizes excellence in athletics, academics, and community service. The award is named after John Gagliardi, Saint John's legendary Hall of Fame head football coach who passed away at the age of 91 in 2018. John retired in 2012 with 489 career victories, the most in college football history.

This marks the first time since 2017 a W&J football player has been announced as a semifinalist for the Gagliardi Trophy. Wide Reciever Jesse Zubik '17. Pugh now joins the ranks of fellow past W&J quarterbacks to be named a semifinalist for the award with Jason Baer and Bobby Swallow '08.

Pugh repeated as the conference's Offensive Player of the Year this season, and the first President to win the award in back-to-back seasons since Chris Babirad (1991-1992). Pugh topped his output from a season ago, leading the PAC nearly every passing category including passing yards (3,011, career-high), touchdowns (39, career-high), completion percentage (70.6) and passing efficiency (190.8, career-high). He ranked fourth in NCAA Division III in passing yards and touchdowns while ranking fifth in passing yards per game and ninth in passing efficiency.
 
With his 92^nd career passing touchdown thrown against Allegheny, Pugh holds sole possession of fourth all-time at W&J in passing touchdowns and sits three away from third. Pugh also holds the second-most passing touchdowns thrown in a single season at W&J only behind Bobby Swallow '08 (46).
 
Pugh also tallied three PAC Offensive Player of the Week selections throughout the regular season (Sept. 9, Oct. 14, and Nov. 18.).

Academically, Pugh was voted to the CSC Academic All-District team in 2022 and 2023 and made the PAC Academic Honor Roll once so far in his time at W&J with a 3.49 GPA as a Business Administration major. Pugh additionally volunteered time with the W&J Football camps and youth camps in the local campus community.

The list of 18 semifinalists features another quarterback-heavy class, as well as nominees from all six NCAA regions. Nearly all the semifinalists participated in at least the first round of the Division III playoffs.

The Gagliardi Trophy finalists will be announced during a live show at 4:00 p.m. Thursday, December 19, on D3football.com. Host Pat Coleman will profile the finalists during the program. The 2024 Gagliardi Trophy winner will be revealed on D3football.com during the week of the NCAA Division III football national championship game. In the lead up to the announcement of the 2024 Gagliardi Trophy winner, D3football.com will provide updates on specific dates and times of the announcement.

The Gagliardi Trophy national-selection committee is comprised of 18 Division III coaches (three from each NCAA Region), six Division III administrators (one from each region), 12 regional notable voters (two from each region) and six national voters with Division III backgrounds. A fan vote, which runs until December 13, is live on D3football.com.

Full list of W&J Gagliardi Trophy Semifinalists (Five):

Jacob Pugh (QB, 2024)
Jesse Zubik (WR, 2017)
Bobby Swallow (QB, 2008)
Jason Baer (QB, 1995)
Matt Szczypinski (DE, 1994)