LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – UWF wide receiver John Jiles is one of 38 student-athletes from across the country that have been nominated for the 2023 Harlon Hill Trophy as the Division II College Football Player of the Year, as announced by the National Harlon Hill Award Committee on Tuesday.
 
Jiles is among the most exciting wideouts in the country, ranking second in the NCAA in receiving yards (1,209), receiving yards per game (109.9) and receiving touchdowns (16). The First Team All-Gulf South Conference selection from Wake Forest, North Carolina has six 100-yard receiving games and has caught at least one touchdown in nine games.
 
Jiles is one of eight nominees from Super Region 2 on the ballot. There are 10 nominees from Super Region 1, 10 from Super Region 3 and 10 from Super Region 4.
 
The group of 38 candidates includes 17 quarterbacks, eight running backs, five defensive linemen, three linebackers, two defensive backs, two wide receivers and an offensive lineman. The list features 19 seniors, 11 juniors and eight sophomores.
  
The sports information directors at the 161 NCAA Division II football-playing institutions nominate and vote on the award. The 38 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 Monday, Nov. 27.

The winner of the 2024 award will be announced on Friday, Dec. 15 and the winner will be honored at the Little Rock Touchdown Club awards banquet on Friday, Jan. 12, 2024.

The sports information directors at their respective schools initially nominate candidates. The SIDs in those Super Regions vote for their top five candidates. The winner is then determined in a nation-wide vote of the Division II sports information directors.