MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. -- The Minnesota Chapter of the National Football Foundation (NFF) has announced that Minnesota State Moorhead quarterback
Jack Strand has been named the Division II Bobby Bell College Impact Player of the Year. The awards honors Minnesota's most impactful players across Division I, II and III football.
Strand was joined by Division I winner Anthony Smith of the University of Minnesota and Division III winner Albert Rundell of Bethel University. The Bobby Bell College Impact Player of the Year Award honors the most impactful Minnesota college football player at the Division I, II and III levels. A winner from each division was selected by a voting committee comprised of board members from the Minnesota Chapter of the National Football Foundation.
"Football in our state has never been stronger and we loved watching Anthony, Jack and Albert each week. They produced on the field and significantly contributed to the success of their teams," said Todd Fultz, President of the Minnesota Chapter of the National Football Foundation. "We are so thrilled to honor their outstanding achievements during the upcoming Minnesota Football Honors show."
The following parameters are considered while selecting players for the ballot: First, Second, or Third Team All-American honors, Player of the Year awards and Heisman, Harlon Hill, or John Gagliardi Trophy winners. Qualified nominations are considered as well.
Smith, Strand and Rundell will be honored April 19 during a private awards event at Huntington Bank Stadium on the University of Minnesota campus. The April event will be recorded for the Minnesota Football Honors show, airing later this summer on YouTube and social media, with full broadcast details coming soon.
Division II Bobby Bell College Impact Player of the Year: QB Jack Strand, Minnesota State Moorhead
Minnesota State Moorhead quarterback Jack Strand was one of the top players in Division II football. This year, Strand led the NSIC in passing (3,546) and total yardage (3,834) throughout the season. Strand also accounted for 47 total touchdowns and set Minnesota State Moorhead's single-season record with 42 passing touchdowns. Strand was named AFCA All-America Second Team (2025), D2CCA All-America First Team (2025), Don Hansen All-America Second Team (2025) and D2Football.com Elite 100/All-America First Team (2025). He also earned D2CCA Super Region 3 Offensive Player of the Year (2025), NSIC Offensive Player of the Year (2023, 2025) and All-NSIC (2023-25) honors. Strand is now Minnesota State-Moorhead's career leader in passing completions (1,247), passing yards (13,161), passing touchdowns (126) and total offense (13,216).
About the Minnesota Chapter of the National Football Foundation:
The Minnesota Chapter of The National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame is a local non-profit organization whose mission is to promote amateur football's ability to develop leadership, sportsmanship, competitive spirit and academic excellence in Minnesota's young people. The Minnesota Chapter recognizes legendary football icons, college football Hall of Famers and Minnesota's top high school and college football scholar-athletes. For more information, visit www.nffmn.org, or Facebook (@MNFootballHonors) and Twitter (@NFFMN).
