JACKSON, Miss. – Millsaps football senior Nicholas Eaton, a stellar student-athlete on and off the gridiron, was selected the Majors' 2024 Gagliardi Trophy nominee, the Millsaps College Department of Athletics announced on Tuesday.
The Gagliardi Trophy, presented by the J-Club and Stearns Bank, was first presented in 1993 and has become premier individual award in Division III football, honoring excellence in athletics, academics and community service.
The award is named for John Gagliardi, head football coach of Carroll College 1949 to 1952 and Saint John's University from 1953 to 2012.
During the 2024 season, Eaton tallied 18 total tackles, 4.0 TFLs, 2.5 sacks (17th SAA) and two quarterback hurries during his senior campaign.
Millsaps head football coach Brandon Lechtenberg stated, "While I have only been coaching Nick for one season; the leadership, toughness and his commitment to excellence make him the ideal recipient for the Gagliardi Trophy."
"I was hired at Millsaps last January and took over a struggling football program. Nick Eaton was one of the upper classmen that chose to stick with football despite going through his third head coach in four years. He immediately bought into our staff and became a leader amongst our football team. He showed tremendous leadership ability within his own position group, our defense and ultimately proved to be among the most respected and best leaders on our team."
The Business Administration major holds a 3.7 cumulative GPA and during the 2024 Spring term, Eaton became a member of Club 40 after recording a perfect 4.0 grade point average.
In the classroom Eaton made both the Dean's List and President's List twice, while being named to the Southern Athletic Association Fall Academic Honor Roll three semesters to date.
Eaton has performed community service with Wingard Home and the Mustard Seed.
While on campus, Eaton is a member of the Kappa Alpha Order. Last season he was also named to the 2023 College Sports Communicators Academic All-District Team.
To keep up to date with everything surrounding the football program this year follow the Majors on X and Instagram, like Millsaps Majors Athletics on Facebook or visit gomajors.com.
Founded in Jackson, Mississippi in 1890, Millsaps College is a national liberal arts college dedicated to academic excellence, open inquiry and free expression, the exploration of faith to inform vocation and the innovative shaping of the social, economic and cultural progress of our region. Consistently ranked as one of the best values in higher education, Millsaps has been praised by Colleges That Change Lives, The Princeton Review, Forbes Magazine, U.S. News & World Report, The John Templeton Foundation, and The Fiske Guide to Colleges.
