PELLA—Quarterback Blaine Hawkins (5th-year, Ankeny) was officially recognized as the Gagliardi Trophy recipient to highlight the Central College football awards banquet Sunday.
           
Senior Manager – Sales Program Management Stephanie Mussetter of Jostens, the Gagliardi Trophy co-sponsor along with the J-Club of Saint John's University (Minn.), made the trip from Minneapolis to salute Hawkins as the outstanding NCAA Division III player in 2021. Hawkins was named the winner Dec. 17 on D3football.com, just prior to kickoff for the Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl in Canton, Ohio. Given annually since 1993, the Gagliardi Trophy recognizes athletics, academics and community service and is named for the late John Gagliardi, the highly decorated former Saint John's coach.
           
Sunday Hawkins also became the second player in Central history to receive the Heerema-Schilder MVP Blanket for the third time, previously winning in 2018 and 2019 (the award was not given in 2020). Receiver Sam Markham was cited in 2015, 2016 and 2017.
           
Hawkins set an NCAA all-divisions record with 63 touchdown passes this season. In 13 games, he completed 331 of 468 passes (70.7%) for 4,475 yards and eight interceptions while posting a passing efficiency rating of 192.1. He also rushed for 230 yards and five touchdowns on 83 carries. Hawkins led Division III in points responsible for as well (410) while finishing second in total offense (361.9 yards per game), passing efficiency (192.1), passing yards (4,475) and passing yards per game (344.2) and fourth in completion percentage (.707).
           
And, in what coach Jeff McMartin described as one of the "best-kept secrets in college football," it was revealed that Hawkins went on his record-breaking binge while playing the last half of the season with a broken bone in the wrist of his throwing hand. Hawkins made the decision to continue playing following the injury, but it required surgery following the season.
           
Several other team awards were passed out as Central's American Rivers championship team was honored. The Dutch posted a 10-0 regular-season mark and finished at 12-1 overall, advancing to the NCAA Division III quarterfinals. It was a record 32nd conference championship and the program's 22nd NCAA playoff berth. Central led Division III in nine statistical categories. Wide receiver Tanner Schminke (5th-year, Boone) topped the nation in receiving yards (1,536) and in touchdown receptions (19). The squad broke or tied 62 school records.

Hawkins and Schminke were both named first-team All-Americans by the Associated Press and D3football.com and Hawkins was also cited by the American Football Coaches Association. Offensive guard Joshua Mayhew (5th-year, Aurora, West Aurora HS) was a second-team D3football.com pick while defensive lineman Blade Durbala (5th-year, Blairstown, Benton HS) and defensive end Hunter Maddy (5th-year, Mystic, Centerville HS) were third-team selections. McMartin was named the AFCA Division III Coach of the Year. Hawkins was the American Rivers Offensive Player of the Year while Durbala was the league's Defensive Player of the Year.
           
Linebacker Drew Smith (5th-year, Joliet, Ill., West HS) received the Mentink Award for leadership and inspiration on and off the field. Receiver Jeff Herbers (junior, Urbandale, Des Moines Christian HS) was the Claussen Award winner as the team's most improved player. Offensive lineman Josh Kuiper (senior, Grundy Center) won the Borgman Award as the senior player with the top cumulative grade point average, carrying a 3.91. Offensive lineman Griffin Sargent (5th-year, Ankeny, Centennial HS) received the Kuyper Award for outstanding contributions by a non-starting senior player. Linebacker Josh Van Gysel (sophomore, Anthem, Ariz., Boulder Creek HS) was presented the Lankelma Award as the team's outstanding underclass player. Defensive lineman Truman Krob (freshman, Lisbon) received the Ted Dagh Award as the most valuable defensive scout team most valuable player while wide receiver Hunter Wilkinson (sophomore, Jensen Beach, Fla.) was the Kirk Wagner Award recipient as the offensive scout team MVP. Defensive lineman Cody Wonderlich (5th-year, Pleasant Hill, Southeast Polk HS) received the Mel VerMeer Loyalty Award. Tight end Grant Nelson (freshman, Pella) won the Brian O'Donnell Award as the team's top freshman. Mayhew won the Bruce Wendt Award for the third time as the team's outstanding offensive lineman. He won the award outright in 2018 and shared it in 2019. Kicker Logan Sunvold (sophomore, Monroe, Southeast Polk HS) won the Special Teams Award.
           
McMartin awarded 72 varsity letters.