Holland Reporter

Grand Valley State University's senior offensive lineman, Gabe Brown, has been named a finalist for the 2024 Gene Upshaw Award. The announcement was made by The Manheim Touchdown Club. Brown's performance this season earned him several accolades, including being a D2CCA First-Team Super Region 3 honoree and the 2024 GLIAC Offensive Lineman of the Year. He has also been recognized as a two-time First-Team All-GLIAC performer.

Brown played a key role in GVSU's rushing game, which led the GLIAC and ranked seventh nationally with an average of 247.2 yards per game. His versatility on the offensive line contributed to the team rushing for over 235 yards in eight games during the season. His proficiency in both run and pass blocking is highlighted by his efficiency rating of 96.3 for the regular season.

Grand Valley State University has a history of producing Gene Upshaw Award winners, with four recipients to date, making it a leader among Division II schools. Matt Judon was the most recent winner from GVSU in 2015, preceded by Brandon Barnes in 2007 and Mike McFadden who won in both 2005 and 2006.

The Gene Upshaw Award honors its namesake, Mr. Upshaw, who had an illustrious career as an All-Pro lineman for the Oakland Raiders before serving as executive director of the NFL Players Association for 25 years. A former standout at Texas A&I University (now Texas A&M Kingsville), Upshaw was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility in 1987. The award is presented annually by The Manheim Touchdown Club.