COLLEGEVILLE, Minn. – The Saint John's University J-Club released its finalists for the 32nd annual Gagliardi Trophy, presented by Stearns Bank, on Thursday, Dec, 18, including Kaleb Blaha representing UW-River Falls.

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. John retired in 2012 with 489 career victories, the most in college football history. 

The five finalists include the top passer, rusher and receiver in Division III. The University of Wisconsin-River Falls' Kaleb Blaha leads the nation in passing; the top rusher is Montie Quinn of Curry College, Mass.; and Albert Rundell of Bethel University, Minn. leads all receivers. Blaha and quarterback Bay Harvey of Johns Hopkins University will face off this Saturday at River Falls for a chance to play in the Division III football national championship game, the Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl, which will be played on Jan. 4, 2026, in Canton, Ohio. The final finalist is Jack Curtis of Carleton College, the MIAC's player of the year. Curtis has a remarkable story of battling cancer while passing for 312 yards per game, leading the MIAC in passing yards and helping the Knights to a third-place finish in the conference.

Also recently named an Associated Press First Team All-American and the AP Offensive Player of the Year, Kaleb Blaha has not only solidified his name atop the Falcon record books, but recently broke WIAC single-season records in pass completions and total offense yards. He is the nation's leader in total offense with 401.5 yards per game and passing yards - a WIAC record total of 4,160 yards. In addition, he ranks among the top 10 national leaders with 27.5 pass completions per game, 35 passing touchdowns, 320 passing yards per game, and 23.1 points responsible for per game.

Off the field, Blaha is a two-time WIAC Scholastic Honor Roll member and has maintained a 3.337 cumulative GPA, majoring in Health and Physical Education at UWRF. During his career as a Falcon student-athlete, he has volunteered his time in the River Falls community for events such as 'Youth Day With Falcons', 'Change Drive for Food Pantry', UWRF's  'Trick or Treat for Canned Goods' Project, BRIDGE efforts with handicap populations, along with Breast Cancer, Military Appreciation, and Coach to Cure MD initiatives.

Blaha and the Falcons (12-1), coming off a 46-21 win over Wheaton College in the NCAA Quarterfinals, will host Johns Hopkins University this Saturday, Dec. 20 in the Semifinals. 

The 2025 Gagliardi Trophy winner will be revealed on D3football.com during the week of the NCAA Division III football national championship. In the lead up to the announcement of the 2025 Gagliardi Trophy winner, D3football.com will provide updates on specific dates and times of the announcement.