He’s nicknamed “The Alien,” and has multiple season and career records for the UW-La Crosse football team.
So, it’s no surprise that 6-foot-2, senior wide receiver Jack Studer has been named one of 18 semifinalist for the Gagliardi Trophy, which is awarded to the top Division III football player.
Studer, an Eyota, Minn., native, is one of only two wide receivers on the list, which also consists of eight quarterbacks, two running backs and a few different defensive positions.
Studer had 64 catches for 1,081 yards and nine touchdowns in helping lead the Eagles to the second round of the playoffs.
Studer finishes his career as UWL’s all-time leader in touchdown receptions (35) and receiving yards (3,127) while ranking second in career receptions (182).
In 2023, Studer set the UW-L single-season record for yards (1,567) and had the second-most touchdowns in school history that season (15).
Studer is studying Exercise Sport Science and has a 3.26 cumulative GPA. He is a four-time member of the WIAC Scholastic Honor Roll.
Studer is the fifth player for UW-L in the last eight years to be named a semifinalist for the Gagliardi Trophy, joining wide receivers Nick Holcomb (2017) and Cole Spieker (2019), running back Joey Stutzman (2022) and quarterback Keyser Helterbrand. Running back John Janke (1993), quarterback Craig Kusick (1995) and wide receivers Scott Burnoski (2004) and Holcomb (2017) have been named finalists for the award.
UW-L’s current assistant coach, Michael Zweifel, was named the winner of the 2011 Gagliardi Trophy, while playing wide receiver at the University of Dubuque (Iowa).
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 University (Minn.) legendary Hall of Fame head football coach who passed away at the age of 91 in 2018. He retired in 2012 with 489 career victories, the most in college football history.
The Gagliardi Trophy finalists will be at 3 p.m. Dec. 19.
TOP PHOTO: FILE – UW-La Crosse receiver Jack Studer catches his school record 35th career touchdown pass in the Division III playoff lost to St. John’s on Nov. 30, 2024 (PHOTO: UWLAthletics.com)