NEW YORK, NY – Four first-time selections headline this year's recipients of the prestigious Rimington Award, presented annually to the top centers in the FCS, DII, DIII, and NAIA divisions for over two decades. On this list is Bemidji State University graduate student Jake Gannon. 

Gannon has earned the Rimington Award at the DII level. Gannon, a graduate student from Franklin, Wisc., is a three-time All-Northern Sun Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (NSIC) honoree and five-time NSIC All-Academic Team member. Gannon overcame an injury during his senior year to comeback to lead Bemidji State as a graduate student and has been named a 2024 Gene Upshaw Division II Lineman of the Year Award finalist. He anchored an offensive line that averaged 360.8 yards per game and helped guide the Beavers to the NCAA DII National Quarterfinals. He started in all 14 games for the Beavers this season as the top center and earned a D2Football Elite 100 First Team Offense nod. A team captain, Gannon was named to the D2Football.com Elite 100 Preseason Watch List's Second Team Offense prior to the start of the season. Following the season, he was named to the All-Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference First Team Offense and Academic Team of Excellence, D2CCA All-Super Region 4 First Team, D2CCA All-American Second Team, AP All-American First Team, along with being a finalist for the 2024 Gene Upshaw Award.
 
At center, Gannon helped Beaver rushers to 2515 total rushing yards this season with 23 touchdowns and an average of 179.6 rushing yards per game. Bemidji State's offense ranked in the top 50 of all NCAA Division II programs in 3^rd down conversion (47^th), 4^th down conversion (22^nd), completion percentage (48^th), first downs (14^th), rushing offense (27^th), sacks allowed (29^th), tackles for loss allowed (17^th), time of possession (25^th) and winning percentage (35^th). Gannon's blocking assisted sophomore running back Jayden Washington reach over 1,000 career rushing yards in just his second season (1034). The Beaver offensive line also propelled quarterback Sam McGath to 18^th in the nation for passing touchdowns and 14^th for points responsible for. BSU allowed just 1.21 sacks per game and 4.29 tackles for a loss per game. 
 
Gannon and the rest of the honorees will be recognized at the Rimington Trophy Presentation on Jan. 25 at 6:30 p.m. in Lincoln, Neb.

Reid Williams of UT-Chattanooga has been named the Rimington Award winner for the FCS level. Williams, a redshirt junior from Ringgold, Ga., is a three-time All-Southern Conference Team selection. Williams also earned CSC Academic All-District and FCS ADA Academic awards. As a three-year starter for the Mocs, he played a pivotal role in their 7-5 season, during which the team averaged 346.2 yards per game. Williams was graded as the top center for most of the season by Pro Football Focus (PFF) and served as a team captain.

Matt Wrather of John Carroll University is this year's DIII Rimington Award recipient. Wrather, a senior from Powell, Ohio, was named an AFCA First Team All-American in 2024 and earning First Team All-Ohio Athletic Conference honors in 2022, 2023, and 2024. He has also been recognized as an All-American by D3football.com and Lindy's Sports. Wrather led an offensive line that averaged 442.8 yards per game and helped John Carroll advance to the second round of the NCAA DIII National Playoffs.

Will Angel of Indiana Wesleyan has been honored as the Rimington Award winner for the NAIA division. Angel, a senior from Liberty, Mo., is a three-time MSFA Mideast All-Conference Team selection on the offense line. He and the rest of the Wildcat offensive line allowed time for an offensive attack that ranked Top 6 in the NAIA with 3,666 passing yards, 347 first downs, and only ten sacks allowed. This elite group paved the way on the ground for 2,805 rushing yards with two running backs totaling over 1,000 yards individually leading the Wildcats to an 11-2 record and a quarterfinal appearance in the NAIA Championship Series.

Rimington Award Selection
The Rimington Award winners are selected by Jason Dannelly, coordinator of the award and a prominent voice in college football for non-FBS divisions. Dannelly, the founder of the Victory Sports Network and a 20-year member of the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA), continues the tradition of celebrating excellence with one of college football's most distinguished honors. Nominations for each level come from a variety of scouts, coaches and media. In order to be considered for the award, the athlete much achieve a minimum of All Conference status.

About the Rimington Trophy
The Rimington Trophy is presented annually to the most outstanding center in NCAA Division I College Football. Since its inception, the award has raised over $5.1 million for the Boomer Esiason Foundation. The 2024 Rimington Trophy recipient will be honored in at the Rococo Theatre in Lincoln, NE on January 25, 2025. To learn more about Dave Rimington, the trophy's namesake, and the event, please visit www.rimingtontrophy.com
The Rimington Trophy is a member of the National College Football Awards Association (NCFAA), which encompasses the most prestigious awards in college football. Founded in 1997, the NCFAA and its 25 awards now boast over 800 recipients, dating to 1935. Visit ncfaa.org to learn more about the association.

About the Boomer Esiason Foundation
In 1993, Boomer Esiason's son, Gunnar, was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis (CF). Boomer and his wife Cheryl founded the Boomer Esiason Foundation to raise funds and awareness for the cystic fibrosis community. To date, the Foundation has raised over $175 million and works to provide educational and financial resources to help people living with CF in the here and now.
 
For more information on the Bemidji State Football program, tickets or schedules, visit BSUBeavers.com, follow the Beavers on X (@BSUBeaversFB), like them on Facebook (facebook.com/BSUBeavers) and like them on Instagram (@BSUBeaversFB).
 
Located on the shore of Lake Bemidji, Bemidji State University sponsors 15 varsity athletic programs with NCAA Division I men's and women's hockey membership in the Central Collegiate Hockey Association and Western Collegiate Hockey Association, while its 13 NCAA Division II programs hold membership in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC).