ALLIANCE, Ohio - The University of Mount Union M Club Hall of Fame has announced its 2024 class and special award winner.
 
The eight-person hall of fame class includes Rob Adamson '03 (Football), Derek Blanchard '08 (Football), Larry Kinnard Jr. '10 (Football), Nate Kmic '09 (Football), Matthew Kostelnik '08 (Football), Greg Micheli '09 (Football), Eric Safran '08 (Football), and Marcell Stephens '87 (Track and Field).
 
In addition, the Duke Barret Award of Excellence will be given to Jim Jones '91 (Cross Country and Track and Field).
 
To be inducted into the M Club Hall of Fame, a student-athlete must have earned a degree from Mount Union and received two letters in one sport, or one letter in two or more sports. Athletes are eligible for selection 15 years after graduation or 15 years after their last competition. Consideration will be based solely on Mount Union varsity participation, preceding graduation. Coaches and administrators had to serve at least five years prior to consideration or been at least five years since they left the institution.

• Rob Adamson '03 (Football) never lost a game he started as quarterback at Mount Union (25-0 record). Adamson, a D3football.com All-America selection, led Mount Union to National Championships in 2001 and 2002. Adamson holds the career school record for average yards per completion (16.7), while sixth in passing yards (6,151), sixth in pass efficiency (180.7), ninth in passing touchdown (60), and tenth in total offense (5,976). He also holds the school record for average yards per completion in a season with 17.4 yards in 2002. He was a member of four-straight OAC Championship teams (1999, 2000, 2001, 2002). As a senior, he was second in the nation in passing efficiency. He was inducted into Summit County Sports Hall of Fame in 2012 and played professionally for the Canton Legends.
   
• Derek Blanchard '08 (Football), a two-time First Team All-OAC as an offensive lineman (2006, 2007), earned the OAC Mike Gregory Most Valuable Player Award as the best offensive lineman in 2007. A member of back-to-back NCAA Championship Teams (2004, 2005), Blanchard was a finalist for the Gagliardi Trophy (rare for an offensive lineman to be nominated for this award). He started every game at left guard and set the school record for consecutive starts with 58. Blanchard was a two-time D3football.com All-America First Team selection (2006 and 2007) and earned AFCA All-America First Team (2007) and Associated Press All-America Second Team (2007). Blanchard was named on D3football.com's All-Decade First Team of the 2000s. Additionally, Blanchard was a 2007 ESPN The Magazine/CoSIDA All-Academic First-Team. He was a member of four-straight OAC Championship teams (2004, 2005, 2006, 2007).
   
• Larry Kinnard Jr. '10 (Football) was a member of three-straight National Championship Teams (2000, 2001, 2002), including a starter in 2001 and 2002 (also a starter on the 2003 National Runner-Up team). As a senior, Kinnard earned First Team All-America by four different organizations (Football Gazette, AFCA, D3football.com, and Associated Press). As a junior Kinnard earned All-America First Team by Sports Information Director's Division III Hewlett Packard and D3football.com, and earned All-America Second Team by the Associated Press. Kinnard, voted the 2003 OAC Mike Gregory Most Valuable Player as the best offensive lineman, was a two-time All-OAC First Team (2002 and 2003) (and Second Team All-OAC in 2001). He was a member of four-straight OAC Championship teams (2000, 2001, 2002, 2003). Kinnard's teams went 55-1 for his career, including three-straight perfect 14-0 seasons (2000-02).
   
• Nate Kmic '09 (Football) earned the National Player of the Year Melberger Award in 2008 and was a two-time D3Football.com Offensive Player of the Year. He was a member of three National Championship Teams (2005, 2006, 2008), earning Stagg Bowl MVP in 2005. Kmic was a three-time D3football.com All-America First Team selection (2006, 2007, 2008), a three-time Associated Press All-American (including First Team in 2008), and an All-American First Team by the AFCA (2008). A three-time All-OAC First Team selection (2006, 2007, 2008), Kmic became the college football's (all divisions) all-time leader in rushing yards (8,074 yards) and was the most prolific scorer in NCAA history (all-divisions) (130 total touchdowns, 780 points), in addition to the NCAA all-divisions career all-purpose yards leader (9,651). He holds multiple career school records (rushing yards (8,074), rushing touchdowns (125), average rushing yards in a game (144.2), total points scored (780), and total touchdowns scored (130)). The 2008 OAC Bob Packard Most Valuable Player as the best running back, Kmic was named on D3football.com's All-Decade First Team of the 2000s. He was a member of four-straight OAC Championship teams (2005, 2006, 2007, 2008).
   
• Matthew Kostelnik '08 (Football) was a two-time All-American defensive back, including First Team by D3football.com and the Associated Press in 2007 (Second Team D3football.com in 2006). Kostelnik holds school records for most career fumble returns for a touchdown (3) and most career blocked kicks (6), while tied for first for fumbles returned for a touchdown in a season (2 - 2006). His three blocked kicks in 2006 are tied for second in program history, while he is tied for fourth in career fumble return yards (59). A two-time All-OAC First Team honoree (2006 and 2007), Kostelnik was a member of two National Championship teams (2005 and 2006) and four-straight OAC Championship teams (2004, 2005, 2006, 2007).
   
• Greg Micheli '09 (Football) won the 2008 Gagliardi Trophy winner (Division III Heisman). He is the only player to be named the Most Valuable Player of two Stagg Bowls (2006, 2008). His 4,258 yards of total offense in 2008 was the sixth-highest single-season total in NCAA Division III history. He finished career with a passer rating of 197.4, which made him the most efficient quarterback in NCAA history. A two-time D3football.com First Team All-American (2007 and 2008) (also Associated Press All-American Third Team in 2007), Micheli was a member of three National Championship teams (2005, 2006, 2008). A two-time All-OAC First Team selection (2007 and 2008), Micheli has the school record for career passing completion percentage (74.1). Micheli was named on D3football.com's All-Decade First Team of the 2000s. He was a member of four-straight OAC Championship teams (2005, 2006, 2007, 2008). In addition, Micheli was a two-time CoSIDA First Team Academic All-American. In 2009, Micheli was named the CoSIDA College Division Academic All-American of the Year as the top scholar athlete in the college division that includes every NCAA Division II, III, and NAIA institution, becoming the first athlete in the history of the OAC to win the honor. In 2008, Micheli was named CoSIDA's Academic All-American of the Year, recognized as the top Academic All-American in the entire division for football, and was a finalist for the Campbell Trophy given by the National Football Foundation as the top scholar athlete in college football earning a post-graduate scholarship. 
   
• Eric Safran '08 (Football) is a two-time All-American offensive lineman, including D3football.com First Team in 2007 (D3football.com Second Team in 2006). A two-time First Team All-OAC Selection (2006 and 2007), Safran was a member of two National Championship teams (2005 and 2006). In addition, Safran was the 2007 OAC Clyde Lamb Award Winner, which is presented annually to the top senior scholar-athlete at each OAC institution and was the 2007 finalist for the Campbell Trophy by the National Football Foundation as the top scholar athlete in college football - earning a post-graduate scholarship. A 2007 Academic All-American, Safran was a two-time Academic All-OAC (2006 and 2007). He was a member of four-straight OAC Championship teams (2004, 2005, 2006, 2007). 
   
• Marcell Stephens '87 (Track and Field) earned All-America honors as he placed third in the 1500 at the 1986 NCAA Indoors, in addition to two All-America finishes at the NCAA Cross Country Championship Meet. Stephens was an eight-time OAC individual track and field champion (three indoor and five outdoor), including winning the 1500 OAC Outdoor three times. Stephens was the 1986 OAC cross country individual champion, earning All-OAC twice. Stephen was a member of two National runner-up track and field teams (1985 Indoor and 1984 Outdoor) and two OAC Championship teams (1984 and 1985).

The Duke Barret Award of Excellence is named for the 1951 graduate who was a long-time supporter of Purple Raider athletics. He was an avid M Club member, former chair of the Hall of Fame committee, and Mount Union football coach from 1956-61. The award honors a member of M Club for career experiences or activities that have brought honor and recognition to the individual and, in turn, Mount Union.

• Jim Jones '91 Men's Cross Country, Track & Field was a member of four OAC Indoor and three Outdoor Team Championships. He was a member of the 1989 Men's Cross Country Team that placed 15th at NCAAs (1989), two 8th-place teams in the NCAA Indoor Championships, and two OAC Championship Teams (1987 and 1990).

The 2024 Mount Union M Club Hall of Fame Class and the Duke Barret Award of Excellence winner will be recognized Friday, October 18 at the Giese Center for Performing Arts and will be announced at halftime of the football game against Heidelberg on Saturday, October 19 at Kehres Stadium.

Updated on August 21