Bevins named finalist for lineman award

MANHEIM, Pa. — Northwest junior defensive lineman Collin Bevins has been named one of eight finalists for the 2015 Gene Upshaw Division II Lineman of the Year Award. Bevins was one of two players selected from the NCAA’s Super Region Three, along with Minnesota State’s Joshua Gordon. The award is sponsored by the Manheim Touchdown Club and voted upon by the nation’s NCAA Division II sports information directors. Two finalists advance from each of the four NCAA Division II super regions.

Bevins, the 2015 MIAA Co-Defensive Player of the Year, was voted into the finals from a field of 47 candidates. He finished the 2015 regular season with 38 total tackles, 17.0 tackles for loss, 8.0 sacks and two forced fumbles. He also recorded his first career saftey in a victory over Emporia State on Nov. 7, a game in which he had 4.0 sacks and 5.0 tackles for loss.

The national round of voting begins on Monday, Nov. 23 and closes on Monday Nov. 30. The winner will be announced on Wednesday, Dec. 2. The award recipient has an invitation to participate in front of professional scouts and coaches at the East-West Shrine Game in St. Petersburg, Fla. The winner will also be recognized at the Manheim Touchdown Club’s annual banquet in May.

The NFL recognizes, endorses and supports the winner of the award by guaranteeing a place in the all-star games. The support comes as recognition and appreciation for the late Mr. Upshaw, who was not only an All-Pro lineman for the Oakland Raiders, but later served as the executive director of the NFL Players Association for 25 years. Upshaw, a former standout offensive lineman at Texas A&I University (now Texas A&M Kingsville), was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1987 in his first year of eligibility.