LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – On Tuesday afternoon, thirty-six student-athletes across all four NCAA Division II Football Super Regions were announced as nominees for the 2025 Harlon Hill Award, which has been presented annually since 1986 to Division II Football's National Player of the Year, and among the twelve players representing Super Region 4 is Southern Arkansas Football junior punter, and the Great American Conference All-Conference First Team Selection, Jay Todd Baker.

Baker, a native of Magnolia, Arkansas was the starting punter and kickoff specialist for the Muleriders this season before sustaining an injury against East Central and missing the last two games of the season.

Through nine games on the season, Baker amassed outstanding numbers including 40 kickoffs totaling 2,265 yards for an average of 56.6 yards per kickoff along with 23 touchbacks. He also played a pivotal role in pinning opponents deep in their own end and flipping the field for the Blue and Gold. Through nine games, Jay Todd accounted for 32 punts totaling 1,430 yards with a long of 69 yards and averaged 44.69 yards per punt. The junior also recorded 11 punts down inside the 20-yard line with another 12 punts going 50+ yards. Baker ranks inside the top three in all punting categories for the GAC while being first in average.
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 group of 36 candidates includes 16 quarterbacks, 10 running backs, three wide receivers, three linebackers, a defensive linemen, a safety, a tight end and a punter/kicker.

The list features 20 seniors, 11 juniors and two sophomores and three freshmen.

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.