COLLEGEVILLE, Minn. – Wartburg College fifth-year senior linebacker Owen Grover (Dyersville, Iowa/Dyersville) has been named one of five finalists for the 2023 Gagliardi Trophy, which is awarded to the most outstanding football player in NCAA Division III. 
 
Grover is the only defensive player to be named a finalist this season. Luke Lehnen, quarterback, from North Central College, Braxton Plunk, quarterback from Mount Union, Jake Breitbach, wide receiver from Gustavus Adolphus University, and Tucker Horn, quarterback from Trinity (Texas) University join Grover as finalists. Grover and Lehnen are the two still alive in the NCAA Division III Football Playoffs, who are set to square off against each other on Saturday afternoon. Grover won the fan vote earning 13.78% of the votes. 
 
Grover became a two-time American Rivers Conference (A-R-C) Defensive Most Valuable Player at the conclusion of the 2023 regular season. Grover and the Knights are still in action in the 2023 NCAA Division III Playoffs as they prepare to host North Central College on Saturday at Walston-Hoover Stadium on the campus of Wartburg College in the semifinals. He played a crucial role in getting the Knights to their second consecutive semifinal appearance. In 13 games so far this season, Grover has recorded 102 total tackles (52 solo), four sacks, four pass breakups, three quarterback hurries, and one interception. Grover was recently named D3football.com Region 5 Defensive Player of the Year, his second straight honor. 
 
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. Gagliardi retired in 2012 with 489 career victories, the most in college football history. 
 
The Gagliardi Trophy winner will be revealed on D3football.com during the week of the NCAA Division III Football National Championship, which is slated to be played on Friday, December 15 in Salem, Virginia. 
 
The A-R-C has had two Gagliardi Trophy winners in Blaine Hawkins (Central - 2021) and Michael Zweifel (Dubuque - 2011).