LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – Bowie State senior running back Calil Wilkins was announced Wednesday as one of eight national finalists for the 2021 Harlon Hill Trophy presented annually by the Little Rock Touchdown Club to the Division II National Player of the Year.
Wilkins becomes just the second Bulldog to reach the final eight finalists in program history led by former standout Amir Hall in both 2017 and 2018.
The Super Region Two stud will be joined on the national ballot with West Florida’s quarterback Austin Reed, Slippery Rock’s wide receiver Henry Litwin, Nebraska-Kearney’s quarterback TJ Davis, Northwest Missouri State’s running back Al McKeller, Bemidji State’s quarterback Brandon Alt and Colorado School of Mines running back Michael Zeman. All eight of the finalists come from teams that made the NCAA playoffs.
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The 5-foot-8, 210-pound running back has rushed for a CIAA-leading 1,260 yards so far this season with nine rushing touchdowns. He has also caught 12 balls for 141 yards and a score. This fall, Wilkins has already picked up numerous accolades, including First Team All- CIAA, CIAA Most Valuable Player during the 2021 CIAA championship game.
The Temple Hills, Maryland native helped the nationally-ranked Bowie State Bulldogs to three straight CIAA Northern Division titles, three trips to the conference championship game and three-consecutive CIAA championship titles to go along with NCAA first and second-round victories and a trip to the NCAA DII Quarterfinals – for the first time in school history.
The winner of the 2021 Harlon Hill Trophy will be announced Friday, Dec. 17 and the winner will be honored at the Little Rock Touchdown Club awards banquet Jan. 13, 2022.
The Hill Trophy is named for the late Harlon Hill, a former University of North Alabama standout who went on to fame in the National Football League with the Chicago Bears in the 1950s.
2021 HARLON HILL TROPHY FINALISTS
Henry Litwin, WR, Slippery Rock
Tyson Bagent, QB, Shepherd
Austin Reed, QB, West Florida
Calil Wilkins, RB, Bowie State
TJ Davis, QB, Nebraska-Kearney
Al McKeller, RB, Northwest Missouri State
Brandon Alt, QB, Bemidji State
Michael Zeman, RB, Colorado School of Mines
Courtesy: Bowie State Athletics
