INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – With the start of the Division II football season less than a day away, Wayne Cavadi of NCAA.com has released his first-ever official unofficial Harlon Hill Trophy Watch List, and CSU Pueblo redshirt senior receiver Reggie Retzlaff (Corona, Calif./Riverside City College) was one of nine players named to the list from Super Region Four.

Last season, Retzlaff was named a finalist for the Division II Player of the Year Award from Super Region Four and finished seventh overall in the voting conducted by NCAA Division II Football Sports Information Directors.

In Cavadi's write-up of Retzlaff in the article that appeared on NCAA.com, he says, "The accolades speak for themselves. Retzlaff is the best receiver in DII. He wasn't simply a Harlon Hill nominee, but a finalist, and considering a wide receiver hasn't won the award since 1991, that tells you all you need to know. But I'll tell you more: Retzlaff recorded 6.1 receptions per game to the tune of 1,228 yards and 12 touchdowns, his second straight year with 12 scores. He's a good route runner and legitimate deep threat, averaging 18.3 yards per reception. He also topped 130 yards in more than half his games (six)."

During the 2024 season, Retzlaff, who was named the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Player of the Year, the D2CCA Super Region Four Player of the Year, and a unanimous All-American, set new single-season CSU Pueblo school records for receptions (67), receiving yards (1,228), and receiving touchdowns (12). He averaged 18.3 yards per catch and 111.6 receiving yards per game. Ranked in the Top 10 in Division II in receiving yards per game, total receiving yards, and receiving touchdowns, and enters the season tied for first in career touchdown receptions with 24.

Joining Retzlaff from Super Region Four on Cavadi's preseason Harlon Hill Trophy Watch List is Central Oklahoma running back Jaylen Cottrell, Angelo State quarterback Braden Fuller, Harding running back Braden Jay, Western Colorado defensive lineman Ricky Freymond, UT-Permian Basin running back Kory Harris, Central Washington quarterback Kennedy McGill, Colorado School of Mines receiver Flynn Schiele, and Minnesota State receiver TreShawn Watson.

In addition to unveiling an unofficial Preseason Harlon Hill Watch List, Cavadi also lists his top candidates for the Gene Upshaw Division II Lineman of the Year Award and the Cliff Harris Division II Defensive Player of the Year Award.

On the Cliff Harris Award watch list, Cavadi listed Pack junior linebacker Gary Seidenberger (Fredericksburg, Texas/Fredericksburg) as one of 11 players to watch. Last season, Seidenberger earned Second-Team All-RMAC honors after leading the Pack in tackles with 87, including 39 solo stops. In addition, he tallied 7.5 tackles for a loss, three sacks, one interception, two pass break-ups, and a fumble recovery. He had double-digit tackles in four games, including a career-high 14 tackles in the Pack's NCAA Playoff game last season against Minnesota State. As a freshman in 2023, Seidenberger was named the RMAC Defensive Freshman of the Year.

Joining Seidenberger on the Cliff Harris Award Watch List are Slippery Rock defensive lineman Dylan Christley, Harding defensive back Ty Duggar, Western Colorado defensive lineman Ricky Freymond, Southwest Minnesota State defensive back Parker Knutson, Pittsburg State safety Jordan Rogers, Emporia State defensive back Tyler Schultze, Angelo State defensive lineman Owen Seaver, Ashland defensive lineman Michael Shimek, Kutztown defensive lineman Freddie Retter and Colorado School of Mines linebacker Jackson Zimmerman.

Wayne Cavadi has covered all things Division II sports for NCAA.com since 2015. His work also appears in the Substack best seller, The DII Report. Past credits and bylines include hosting the weekly DII Nation Podcast available on Spotify and YouTube, Bleacher Report, MLB.com, AJC.com, SB Nation, FoxSports.com and in print publications like The Advocate and Lindy's Sports. Follow him on Twitter at @WayneCavadi_D2.