Steve Clark

USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin

SALEM, Va. – University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh quarterback Brett Kasper was named the 2017 Gagliardi Trophy winner at a ceremony at the Salem Civic Center on Wednesday night.

Kasper is the first student-athlete from UWO to win the award, which has been given annually since 1993 and honors the NCAA Division III football player who excels on the field, in the classroom and in the community.

“It’s very special. It’s a humbling honor,” Kasper said in a phone interview after the ceremony. “All of the finalists were more than deserving and they have done great things on and off the field. To stand out from them is truly humbling.”

In his acceptance speech, Kasper said that being at the Stagg Bowl last season and experiencing the Gagliardi Trophy ceremony started him thinking about winning the award.

“Seeing the stat lines and accomplishments (of the finalists) last year, gave me something to strive for,” Kasper said. “It’s an elite group and I was glad to be a part of it.”

Kasper was one of four finalists for the award and joined at the ceremony by Nick Holcomb of UW-La Crosse, Matt Sacia of Wartburg College and Jordan Wilcox of Springfield College.

Kasper was a two-time winner of the WIAC Offensive Player of the Year and led the Titans to three straight NCAA postseason appearances, including reaching the Stagg Bowl in 2016. This season he helped lead the Titans to a WIAC title and a national semifinal appearance, where the Titans lost to Mount Union 43-40 last Saturday.

“If anything, it makes it feel a little better after last week,” Kasper said. “I wish we could have brought the whole team but it means a lot to have Coach (Pat) Cerroni and Coach (Luke) Venne here.”

Kasper set the school record for touchdowns in a season at UWO with 34, while throwing for 3,025 yards – just the third player in program history to surpass 3,000 yards passing in a season. He also set a school record with six touchdown passes in one game in a 42-21 win over North Central College in the NCAA Division III playoffs.

The Two Rivers High School graduate ranked second in the country with a 189.6 passing efficiency and third in yards per pass attempt, while earning top 10 rankings in multiple statistical categories.

The UW-Oshkosh all-time leader in passing yards and touchdown passes, Kasper capped his career with a 40-6 record as a starter. He helped lead the Titans to a 26-2 WIAC record during his four seasons, which included 7-0 league marks in 2015 and 2017.

Kasper's program-record totals of 9,786 passing yards and 89 touchdowns rank third and second, respectively, in WIAC history while his career 161.8 passing efficiency rating set a new league record. Kasper also ranks sixth in WIAC history with 693 career completions and 10th with 1,088 pass attempts.

In January 2017, Kasper became the first Division III captain of the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team for his volunteering efforts with Be the Match. Kasper's bone marrow matched a girl in need of a transplant, and he underwent the life-saving procedure in spring 2016.

Kasper, who owns a 3.375 cumulative grade point average as a supply chain management major, volunteers regularly with organizations, including Feeding America and Special Olympics.

Kasper is the second WIAC player to receive the Gagliardi Trophy, joining UW-Whitewater running back Justin Beaver, who won the honor in 2007.

Kasper attended Wednesday’s event with his family as well as UWO head coach Pat Cerroni and UWO offensive coordinator Luke Venne.

Kasper was a two-time winner of the WIAC Offensive Player of the Year and led the Titans to three straight NCAA postseason appearances, including reaching the Stagg Bowl in 2016. This season he helped lead the Titans to a WIAC title and a national semifinal appearance, where the Titans lost to Mount Union 43-40 last Saturday.

“If anything, it makes it feel a little better after last week,” Kasper said. “I wish we could have brought the whole team but it means a lot to have Coach (Pat) Cerroni and Coach (Luke) Venne here.”

Kasper set the school record for touchdowns in a season at UWO with 34, while throwing for 3,025 – just the third player in program history to surpass 3,000 yards passing in a season. He also set a school record with six touchdown passes in one game in a 42-21 win over North Central College in the NCAA Division III playoffs.

The Two Rivers High School graduate ranked second in the country with a 189.6 passing efficiency and third in yards per pass attempt, while earning top 10 rankings in multiple statistical categories.

The UW-Oshkosh all-time leader in passing yards and touchdown passes, Kasper capped his career with a 40-6 record as a starter. He helped lead the Titans to a 26-2 WIAC record during his four seasons, which included 7-0 league marks in 2015 and 2017.

Kasper's program-record totals of 9,786 passing yards and 89 touchdowns rank third and second, respectively, in WIAC history while his career 161.8 passing efficiency rating set a new league record. Kasper also ranks sixth in WIAC history with 693 career completions and 10th with 1,088 pass attempts.

In January 2017, Kasper became the first Division III captain of the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team for his volunteering efforts with Be the Match. Kasper's bone marrow matched a girl in need of a transplant, and he underwent the life-saving procedure in spring 2016.

Kasper, who owns a 3.375 cumulative grade point average as a supply chain management major, volunteers regularly with organizations, including Feeding America and Special Olympics.

Kasper is the second WIAC player to receive the Gagliardi Trophy, joining UW-Whitewater running back Justin Beaver, who won the honor in 2007.

Kasper attended Wednesday’s event with his family as well as UWO head coach Pat Cerroni and UWO offensive coordinator Luke Venne.