TIM WEIGHT/For The Express Lock Haven quarterback Jackson Ostrowsky throws during a game this year against Gannon.

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – For the second straight season, Lock Haven football record-breaking quarterback Jackson Ostrowsky was nominated for the Harlon Hill Trophy, given to the NCAA DII Football Player of the Year.

Ostrowsky earned his second straight Harlon Hill Nomination, marking the third straight season a Bald Eagle football player has been nominated for the prestigious award, dating back to 2023 when National Football League (NFL) running back Chris Collier started the run.

Ostrowsky is one of just 36 student-athletes from across the nation to earn the nomination for the 2025 Harlon Hill Trophy, the NCAA DII equivalent of the Heisman.

He is one of eight nominees that hails from the Super Region 1 and one of 16 quarterbacks.

The graduate student helped orchestrate one of the greatest turnarounds in the nation when The Haven clinched its first winning season in 44 years after finishing 2025 with a 6-5 overall record and 4-3 mark in the PSAC East.

Three of Lock Haven’s losses came at the hands of a top-10 team in the NCAA DII Football Super Region One.

The Bald Eagles, who have won 16 games over a three-year stretch, clinched their third consecutive five-or-more win seasons in a row in 2025.

Ostrowsky finished the season near the top of the PSAC in every major passing category, including yards (2nd, 2655), touchdowns (2nd, 22), long pass (2nd, 80) and yards per game (2nd, 265.5). He was named PSAC East Athlete of the Week twice.

Ostrowsky wrapped up his sensational two-year Bald Eagle career ranked first all-time in career completion percentage (59%) and yards-per-game (279.0), third in passing yards (5,858), touchdowns (49), completions (462), attempts (377) and fourth in yards per attempt (7.5).

The graduate transfer threw three or more touchdowns five times, including a career-high five touchdowns twice, while going over 200-yards passing in six games, including a season-high 459.

The sports information directors at the 159 NCAA Division II football-playing institutions nominate and vote on the award. The 36 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, December 1.

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 nationwide vote of the Division II sports information directors.

The winner of the 2025 award will be announced on Friday, December 19.

The Hill Trophy is named for the late Harlon Hill – the former University of North Alabama standout – who excelled with the Lions from 1950-53 before going on to fame in the National Football League with the Chicago Bears.