FLORENCE – West Alabama quarterback Deon Williams has been named as one of the 24 candidates in the running for the 2010 Harlon Hill Trophy as the NCAA Division II College Football Player of the Year. The Hill Trophy is sponsored by the City of Florence, Florence-Lauderdale Tourism, Opti-Net, the Marriott Shoals Hotel and Spa and Herff Jones.

This season, Williams has etched his name in the UWA record book – becoming the program’s all-time leader in passing, passing touchdowns and total offense. The Tuscaloosa, Ala. native has thrown for 3,392 yards, 25 touchdowns – rushed for three more – and has thrown for over 300 yards in seven games this season.

The list includes six players from each of Division II’s four Super Regionals. Players are nominated and voted on by the sports information directors at the 148 NCAA Division II football-playing institutions. The 24 initial candidates will be placed on regional ballots and the top two players from each of the four NCAA regions will advance to the national ballot when regional voting concludes on November 19.

Candidates joining Williams from Super Regional 2 are sophomore quarterback Bo Cordell of Tusculum (Tenn.) College, junior quarterback Cody Haffly of Wingate (N.C.) University, senior quarterback Nick Hardesty of Henderson State (Ark.) University, junior quarterback Stanley Jennings of Albany State (Ga.) University and junior running back Jonas Randolph of Mars Hill (N.C.) College.

There were 31 candidates initially 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.

The winner of the 2010 award, which is presented by the National Harlon Hill Award Committee, will be announced at the 25th annual Harlon Hill Trophy Presentation Banquet on Friday, December 17 at the Florence Conference Center at 6:30 p.m. This year’s Hill Trophy Banquet will also include the 12th induction into the Division II Football Hall of Fame, with UWA Head Coach Bobby Wallace, Ken Sparks and Mel Tjeerdsma becoming the first coaches to be inducted. Tickets are $50 each or $400 for a table of eight and can be purchased by calling the Shoals Chamber of Commerce at (256) 764-4661.

The NCAA Division II Championship Game is scheduled for December 18 at Florence’s Braly Municipal Stadium at 10 a.m.