FLORENCE, ALA. -- All-American South Dakota running back Stefan Logan has been named one of eight finalists for the Harlon Hill Trophy as the NCAA Division II College Player of the Year, according to an announcement on Tuesday by the Harlon Hill National Committee. The eight Harlon Hill Trophy finalists were selected by the NCAA Division II Sports Information Directors in regional voting. Logan is now on a national ballot where all 152 of the division's SIDs will select the 21st Harlon Hill Trophy recipient.

Logan, a senior from Miami, Fla., is the second consecutive student-athlete from the South Dakota Football Program (Wesley Beschorner, 2005 Harlon Hill Trophy runner-up) named as a finalist for the Harlon Hill Trophy honor.

"I am honored to be among the finalists," said Logan, who owns 14 school records at South Dakota. "This is possible because of my teammates, who have put themselves on the line. I am proud of how hard they have worked in helping USD reach the playoffs for the first time in 20 years," said Logan.

Logan broke the 1,000-yard mark for fourth straight season, tying an NCAA record held by many and becoming the first back ever in the North Central Conference to accomplish that feat. Logan, who was selected the NCC's Most Valuable Offensive Back, is the third player in league history to earn All-NCC honors for all four seasons of his career. He is the second straight Coyote (Wesley Beschorner, 2005) named the league's Most Valuable Back. A native of Miami, Fla., Logan has been named to the All-NCC team a total of five times, including four times as a running back and one as a return specialist (2005).

"All that Stefan (Logan) has accomplished has happened while he was competing in the highly and nationally competitive North Central Conference," said South Dakota head football coach Ed Meierkort. "Stefan is one of the hardest working players I have ever coached. He also is one of the most productive players ever to compete here or in the NCC. He is one of those players that can go the distance every time that he touches the ball," said Meierkort.

Logan, who was named to four All-American teams in 2005 and three preseason All-American teams in 2006, has rushed for 1,612 yards on 219 carries or 7.4 yards per carry. He has scored 13 TDs, including nine by rush, has a 17.8 yard punt return average (fifth nationally) and a 26.9 kickoff return average (14th in Division II). Logan's single season total of 2,492 all purpose yards ranks second in Division II this season and is the 13th-best single season total ever in Division II. He ranks in the top-10 in three NCAA Division II statistical categories (rushing, punt returns, and all purpose yards). He owns or has tied three NCAA Division II records. In USD's 31-28 overtime win over Northwood on Nov. 18, Logan tied the NCAA Division II record with his 34th 100-yard rushing game (Damian Beane, Shepherd, 1996-99) in his career. He ranks third in nation this season in all purpose yards at 207.7 yards per game and averages 134.3 yards per game (eighth nationally). Logan ranks seventh all-time in NCAA Division II with 7,685 all purpose yards and 12th all-time in Division II rushing with 5,863 yards.

The top two players from each of the Northeast, Southeast, Northwest, and Southwest regions advanced through regional voting. The list of 2006 finalists is comprised of four running backs, three quarterbacks, and one defensive lineman. Six of the finalists helped lead their teams into the NCAA Division II playoffs this season and three of the eight finalists were also Hill finalists in 2005. The finalists included Logan (5'7, 185) and Cullen Finnerty (6'2, 210, senior) of Grand Valley State from the Northwest Region; Jimmy Terwilliger (6'0, 172, senior) of East Stroudsburg and running back Lorenzo Perry (5'6, 185, senior) of Bryant from the Northeast region; Scott Eyster (6'3, 205, senior) of Delta State and Alton Pettway (6'3, 258, senior) of Albany State from the Southeast Region; and Danny Woodhead (5'9, 200, junior) of Chadron State and Germaine Race (5'11, 225, senior) of Pittsburg State from the Southwest region. The Hill Trophy is sponsored by Coca-Cola, the City of Florence, Ala., Trustmark Construction, TNT, Fireworks, the Marriott Shoals Hotel and Spa and Opti-Net. Candidates for the 2006 Hill Trophy were nominated by the sports information directors at their respective schools and those nominations were then reviewed by the Hill Regional Advisory Committees, which trimmed the list of candidates. National voting will conclude on December 1 and the top three finishers will be invited to the Shoals for the presentation banquet. The winner of the 2006 award, which is presented by the National Harlon Hill Award Committee, will be announced at the Harlon Hill Trophy and Division II Football Hall of Fame Banquet on Friday, December 15 in Florence, prior to the NCAA Division II Football Championship Game on Dec. 10. Tickets are $45 each or $360 for a table of eight and can be purchased by calling the Shoals Chamber of Commerce at (256) 764-4661. The initial Harlon Hill Trophy was won by North Dakota State quarterback Jeff Bentrim in 1986, followed by Texas A&M-Kingsville running back Johnny Bailey in 1987, 1988 and 1989. Another North Dakota State quarterback, Chris Simdorn, claimed the 1990 award, followed by Pittsburg State receiver Ronnie West in 1991, Pittsburg State running back Ronald Moore in 1992, New Haven running back Roger Graham in 1993 and Valdosta State University quarterback Chris Hatcher in 1994. North Alabama linebacker Ronald McKinnon became the first defensive player to win the award when he claimed the Hill Trophy in 1995. Truman State University running back Jarrett Anderson won the 1996 award and Bloomsburg running back Irvin Sigler claimed the Hill Trophy in 1997 award. Running back Brian Shay of Emporia State won in 1998, followed by Northern Colorado quarterback Corte McGuffey in 1999 and Valdosta State quarterback Dusty Bonner in 2000 and 2001, and Grand Valley State quarterback Curt Anes in 2002. The 2003 trophy was awarded to North Alabama quarterback Will Hall, and Chad Fruehauf of the Colorado School of Mines won the 2004 award. Terwilliger claimed the 2005 Hill Trophy as a junior.