LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – For the third time in program history, a Harding University football player has been named a finalist for the Harlon Hill Trophy, the NCAA Division II College Football Player of the Year.
Junior running back Andrew Miller was announced Wednesday as one of eight national finalists for the prestigious award following a round of voting by the division's sports information directors. He joins former Bison greats David Knighton (2007) and Cole Chancey (2019) as the only players in school history to reach the final ballot.
Miller, a native of Searcy and graduate of Harding Academy, has served as the engine for the Bisons' offense during a dominant 2025 campaign. A unanimous First Team All-GAC selection, Miller enters the national quarterfinals as the Great American Conference leader in every major rushing category.
Through 13 games, Miller has racked up a school-record 1,730 rushing yards, ranking second nationally in Division II. He is averaging 133.1 yards per game (5th in DII) and an astounding 8.12 yards per carry (2nd in DII). His ability to find the end zone has been equally historic; Miller has 23 rushing touchdowns this season, just one shy of Chancey's single-season school record of 24.
Miller's consistency has been matched only by his explosiveness. He has found the end zone in 12 of 13 games this season and has eclipsed the 100-yard mark nine times, including a current streak of seven consecutive games.
His resume features two 200-yard performances, headlined by a record-shattering afternoon against Henderson State. In that contest, Miller rushed for 298 yards, setting new NCAA Division II records for rushing yards in a single quarter and a single half.
For his career, the junior now ranks third all-time at Harding with 45 rushing touchdowns, fourth with 3,300 rushing yards, and fifth in rushing yards per game (80.5).
Miller is one of two finalists from Super Region 4, joining Western Colorado senior quarterback Drew Nash. The national ballot features six quarterbacks and just two running backs.
The 6-foot-1, 225-pound fullback will lead the Bisons into the NCAA Division II national quarterfinals this weekend against UT Permian Basin.
The winner of the 2025 Harlon Hill Trophy will be determined by a vote of the 177 sports information directors at Division II schools and conferences. The winner will be announced on Friday, Dec. 19.
2025 Harlon Hill Trophy Finalists: Super Region 1: Curtis Allen (RB, Virginia Union), Judd Novak (QB, Kutztown) Super Region 2: Reed Charpia (QB, Newberry), Marcus Stokes (QB, West Florida) Super Region 3: Jack Strand (QB, MSUM), Gavin Sukup (QB, UIndy) Super Region 4: Andrew Miller (RB, Harding), Drew Nash (QB, Western Colorado)
