The Gene Upshaw Award, which is in its seventh year of existence this season, is given annually to the top lineman, either offensive or defensive, in Division II Football each year and the award winner is selected by the Sports Information Directors of the 150 football playing NCAA Division II institutions and is named in honor of the late Gene Upshaw, former Executive Director of the National Football League Players Association. Upshaw passed away on August 20, 2008.
Upshaw, who was a standout lineman at Texas A&I (now Texas A&M-Kingsville), was a six-time All-Pro during his 16-year career with the Oakland Raiders of the NFL (National Football League) and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio, in 1987.
Frye was one of six Gulf South Conference players and one of six defensive lineman named as candidates from Super Region Two for this year’s Upshaw Award. Joining Frye as candidates this season are Ouachita Baptist senior defensive tackle Bryan Church, North Alabama senior defensive end Courtney Harris, Harding senior defensive end Marcus Jones, Southern Arkansas senior defensive tackle Cedric Thornton and Henderson State senior center Mike Tuimavave. Other candidates from Super Region Two are Newberry senior center Matt Holmes, Carson-Newman senior offensive tackle Michael Tribue, Kentucky State junior offensive lineman Jessie Mitchell, Brevard College senior offensive tackle Darrell Neely, Morehouse College senior defensive lineman Derrin Nettles, Lenoir-Rhyne junior offensive tackle Chandler Rearden and Tusculum senior offensive lineman Hannibal Ruiz.
Among the criteria for the Upshaw Award are: 1.) the candidate must be a junior or senior in athletic eligibility and competed in at least 70 percent of the team’s regular season games; 2.) must play at one of the following positions – offensive linemen: tackles, guards, centers (tight ends are ineligible) and defensive linemen: ends, tackles, nose guards/tackles; 3.) must be in good academic standing; 4.) the player must be All-America or All-Region caliber and 5.) schools can only nominate one per institution (regardless of position).
It is the third straight year that Tech has had a player named as a candidate from Super Region Two for the Gene Upshaw Award as former Wonder Boy center Torrence Wright was a candidate in both 2008 and 2009.
Frye earned his candidacy for the Gene Upshaw Award this season after being named a Second-Team All-GSC selection on defense and recording 39 total tackles, including 25 solo stops and being second on the team in both tackles for loss (12.5) and sacks (4.5). Along with that, Frye, who played in and started all 11 games this season for the Wonder Boys, recorded seven pass break-ups, three quarterback hurries and forced two fumbles. Frye anchored a Tech defensive line that recorded 13.5 of Tech’s 26 sacks and had 29 of Tech’s 71 tackles for loss. In his two years at Tech, Frye, who was a transfer from Southwest Mississippi Community College, recorded 56 tackles, including 31 solo stops in 23 games. In addition, he had 15.0 career tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks, eight pass break-ups, two forced fumbles and a blocked kick.
The top two candidates from each of the four Super Regions will advance on to the national ballot on Nov. 29 and the winner of this year’s Upshaw Award will be named at the East/West Shrine Game on Orlando, Fla., on Jan. 22. This year’s recipient of the Upshaw Award will be guaranteed an opportunity to play in both the East/West Shrine Game and the Texas vs. The USA All-Star Game in San Antonio, Texas on Feb. 6, 2011 and they will also be on the roster for the Valero Cactus Bowl Division II All-Star Game on Jan. 7, 2011, in Kingsville, Texas. The actual presentation ceremony for this year’s award will take place in May 2011 at the Manheim Touchdown Club Banquet in Lancaster, Pa.
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