Related: Gene Upshaw Award release
MANHEIM, Pa. (GoThunderWolves.com - Dec. 17, 2012) - CSU-Pueblo senior tackle Ryan Jensen (Sr., Fort Morgan, Colo.) finished fifth in the vote for the Gene Upshaw Award, honoring Division II's finest offensive or defensive lineman.
Jensen, who was one of eight national finalists for the award, finished behind winner Garth Heikkinen from Minnesota-Duluth, Valdosta State senior left tackle Ryan Schraeder, Winston-Salem State's senior center Markus Lawrence and West Texas A&M tackle Manase Foketi.
The Upshaw Award is presented annually to the top NCAA Division II junior or senior offensive or defensive lineman in the nation. Sports information directors from each of the football-playing Division II institutions comprise the voters. As a recipient of the Gene Upshaw Award, Heikkinen receives a trophy in the likeness of Upshaw and an automatic invitation to participate in the East/West Shrine Game held at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg,Fla. and the NFLPA All-Star Game held in Carson, Calif. Both games are scheduled for Jan. 19.
Jensen, the ThunderWolves' first ever finalist for the award, didn't allow a sack in 2012 and averaged over 13 knockdown blocks per game. He has been named All-American by three different organizations so far in 2012, earning first-team All-American honors by Daktronics.
