SALEM, Va. – Wesley College quarterback Joe Callahan won the prestigious Gagliardi Trophy on Wednesday as the top player in NCAA Division III football.

Callahan was one of four finalists on hand at the Gagliardi banquet on Wednesday night in Salem, where the Division III national championship game will be played on Friday. He was also a finalist for last year’s award.

Callahan joins former Wolverine safety Rocky Myers, who received the Gagliardi in 2005, as winners of the 23-year-old award.

This year’s other Gagliardi finalists were Guilford quarterback Matt Pawlowski, tackle David Simmet from St. Thomas and St. John's running back Sam Sura.

This season, Callahan led Wesley to the NCAA quarterfinals and ended the regular season as the Division III leader in five statistical categories: passing efficiency (196.0), passing touchdowns (43), passing yards (3,809), points responsible for per game (29.6) and total offense (410.6 ypg.).

Callahan became the only NCAA Division III quarterback to ever throw for 5,000 yards or more in a season. His 55 touchdown passes this year were the second-most in NCAA Division III history. Callahan joins Hawaii's Colt Brennan ('06) as the only two quarterbacks in all of college football to ever throw for 5,000 or more yards and at least 55 touchdowns in a season.