LOCK HAVEN, Pa. – Redshirt-junior offensive lineman
Trent Fielding (Sunbury, Ohio/Urbana) of the Lock Haven University football team has been nominated for the 2016 Gene Upshaw Division II Lineman of the Year award.
Since 2004, the Manheim Touchdown Club has recognized the top lineman in NCAA Division II football with the Gene Upshaw Division II Lineman of the Year Award. The award is named in the honor of former Texas A&I (now Texas A&M Kingsville) offensive line standout, Oakland Raider and Pro Football Hall of Fame member, Gene Upshaw.
Upshaw, who also served as the Executive Director of the National Football League Players Association for 25 years before his passing in 2008, earned numerous honors at A&I and was picked by the Raiders in the first round of the 1967 draft. He was the first player to play in Super Bowls in three different decades and was named to six Pro Bowls and the NFL's 75th Anniversary All-Time Team. Upshaw was inducted to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1987.
Fielding was a leader on LHU's offensive line from the start of the 2016 season and huge reason behind Lock Haven's offensive success, and record-breaking season.
Fielding started and finished the season at center, but at one point or another saw time at every offensive line position for LHU during the season.
He registered 156 knockdown blocks and anchored an O-line that ranked No. 1 in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) and 15
th in Division II sacks allowed. LHU ranked No. 1 in the PSAC and 11
th nationally in sacks allowed per pass attempt.
In 389 pass attempts, Fielding did not allow a sack, which helped power LHU's potent passing attack and paved the way for record-breaking quarterback
Caleb Walton. As the season progressed, the Bald Eagles run-game got to a whole new level.
As a team, LHU broke single season records for total points (323 pts.), total offense (4,954 yds.) and team passing offense (3,158 yds.).
Lock Haven's four wins in 2016 are the most since Lock Haven won four games during the 2002 season. The Bald Eagles finished PSAC Eastern Division action at 4-3. The four PSAC Divisional wins are the most since the 1979 season.
