MANHEIM, Pa. – Notre Dame College's Brandon Nicholson has taken second place in the Gene Upshaw Award voting, becoming the first player in program history to finish in the top two. The award is given to the top NCAA Division II senior offensive or defensive lineman in the nation. (Release)

Late last month, Nicholson became just the second player in program history to be named a finalist for the award, joining Austin Treneff, who finished fourth in 2018.

The Falcons' left tackle was named All-Mountain East Conference First Team after the 2021 season, for the fourth time in his career. This season, he took Division II Conference Commissioners Association All-Super Region I First Team honors for the second time in his career. Throughout his career, Nicholson has been named All-Super Region 1 First Team by the Don Hansen Football Gazette, twice, and took home All-America Honorable Mention and Second Team honors according to the Don Hansen Football Gazette.

Nicholson is coming off of his second consecutive season of not allowing his assignment to record a sack and was a part of an offensive line that allowed just eight sacks all season. The Falcons' line ranks fourth in the Division II by allowing 0.62 sacks per game. The Bedford High School product has been a part of four straight MEC championships and five NCAA Playoff wins, including a trip to the NCAA D2 Semifinals in 2018.

This season, the offense that averaged 199.5 rushing yards per game, which ranks 25th in D2, and they ranked 19th in Division II with 449.9 yards of total offense per contest. Since 2017, his freshman season, the offensive line has blocked for 13,741 rushing yards.

"Brandon Nicholson is the anchor to our offensive line. Our continued success rushing the football and protecting the quarterback have been a hallmark to what we have built and continue to build at Notre Dame College," said offensive coordinator/offensive line coach Alan Estep. "Brandon was recruited here when national success as a football program was just a vision, and has worked steadily during his career to help make that vision a reality. In my two seasons at NDC, he has been a tremendous person and leader to not only our offensive line but our entire offense and program. His durability is evident by the number of games that he has been able to play in at an extremely high level."

Ferris State's offensive tackle Dylan Pasquali earned 198 points and won the award.

The award is named in honor of former Texas A&I (now Texas A&M Kingsville) University and NFL All-Pro offensive lineman Gene Upshaw. Upshaw, a 1987 inductee into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Division II Sports information Directors voted on the award.