Harlon Hill Trophy The Harlon Hill Trophy is an award in American college football given to the individual selected as the most valuable player in NCAA Division II . The award is named for former University of North Alabama and National Football League player Harlon Hill . It was first given in 1986 to Jeff Bentrim of North Dakota State University . It is often considered to be the Division II equivalent of the Heisman Trophy . Selection process . Nominations for the trophy are made by sports information director s ( SIDs ) from the 156 schools that participate in Division II football . All of the nominees are then presented to a four - member regional Advisory Committee , one for each competition region ( Northeast , South , Midwest , and West ) . Each committee is composed of four SIDs familiar with the process , who select up to six players who they deem worthy of the award , and give their results to the Voting Coordinator . The 24 players selected in the regional committees are referred to as " Candidates " . The regional candidates are then presented to the regions ' SIDs , who vote for a first , second , and third place . Each first place vote earns the player three points , while second place votes earn two , and third place votes one point . The top two players selected in each region are the " Finalists " and are placed on a national ballot . The national ballot is open to all of the SIDs , who vote for first , second , and third place amongst the eight finalist . The top three finishers are invited to the awards presentation held during the Division II Championship weekend in Florence , Alabama . Trophy . The Harlon Hill Trophy is 30 inches tall ( 2 1 / 2 feet ) and weighs 63 pounds . The football on top is a life - size replica of an actual game football and sits on a solid walnut base . The approximate value of the trophy is $ 2 , 300 . It was created by Herff Jones , Inc . of Indianapolis , Ind . , which also makes such notable awards as the Heisman Trophy and the Congressional Medal of Honor . Each year ' s winner of the Hill Trophy is awarded a trophy to keep . The original Hill Trophy remains on display in the Shoals year - round and bears the names of each year ' s recipient . The award was first presented in 1986 . Replicas of the Harlon Hill Trophy are on display at : History . The trophy is named for Harlon Hill , who played at Florence State Teachers College ( now the University of North Alabama ) from 1950 to 1953 , where he was named an NAIA All - American in his senior year . Hill was drafted by the Chicago Bears in the 15th round of the 1954 NFL Draft . He played for the Chicago Bears ( 1954 – 61 ) , Pittsburgh Steelers ( 1962 ) , and Detroit Lions ( 1962 ) . Hill was the NFL ' s Rookie of the Year in 1954 and its most valuable player in 1955 , both voted by the Newspaper Enterprise Association . He was a three - time All - Pro selection between 1954 and 1956 . The trophy was first awarded in 1986 and was manufactured by Herff Jones . The trophy is tall and weighs . It is full - size replica of a football and sits on a solid - walnut base . The trophy is on display in Florence , with a new name added each year . Through 2009 , only three winners have been selected in the NFL Draft . Three - time winner Johnny Bailey was selected by the Chicago Bears in the ninth round of the 1990 draft . Bailey played six seasons in the NFL and was selected to the 1993 Pro Bowl . Ronald Moore was taken by the Phoenix Cardinals in the fourth round in 1993 and played six seasons . Bernard Scott was selected by the Cincinnati Bengals in the sixth round in 2009 and debuted during his rookie season in 2010 . Others were signed in the NFL as undrafted free agent s . Two - time winner Danny Woodhead made his NFL debut with New York Jets in 2009 . Ronald McKinnon signed with the Arizona Cardinals , where he played from 1996 to 2004 . He played an additional season for the New Orleans Saints for a total of ten seasons in the league , recording over 1 , 000 tackles . As of 2009 , three winners — Johnny Bailey , Jeff Bentrim , and Ronald McKinnon — have been inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame . Of the 27 winners through 2012 , 20 have been seniors , six juniors , and one sophomore . Three players have won the award multiple times : Johnny Bailey in 1987 , 1988 , and 1989 , Dusty Bonner in 2000 and 2001 , and Danny Woodhead in 2006 and 2007 . All but one winner ( Ronald McKinnon , 1995 ) have been offensive positions .