Wara Named NCAA Division III Quarterback Of The Year

UW-Oshkosh's Nate Wara (Sr. • Oshkosh) is the first recipient of the Jim Ballard Division III Quarterback of the Year. The award will be presented at the USA Small College Football Awards Banquet on Feb. 17 in Virginia Beach, Va.

Wara was also scheduled to play in the Hansen Bowl on Feb. 18, but the game has been canceled.

Wara earned All-America and WIAC Player of the Year honors after his outstanding 2012 season. He totaled 3,311 yards and 30 touchdowns passing, along with 740 yards and 10 scores rushing. Completing 65 percent of his passes, Wara threw just five interceptions in 366 attempts.

Wara's 4,051 yards were the 13th-highest total in NCAA Division III history. His leadership guided the Titans to a 13-1 record and the fourth round of the playoffs. UW-Oshkosh scored 38 points per game while posting the best season in the program's 118 years. Wara helped the Titans to victories over #3 Linfield College (Ore.), #5 UW-Whitewater, #14 UW-Platteville and #21 Bethel University (Minn.).

For his career, Wara totaled 103 touchdowns. His 80 scores through the air rank fourth in league history, while his yardage (11,202) stands second and his passer rating third (147.8). Wara started all 44 games over the past four seasons.

The Division III Quarterback of the Year award is named after Jim Ballard, who led the University of Mount Union (Ohio) to a national title in 1993. Ballard won the original Gagliardi Trophy and went on to play for the Buffalo Bills and Cincinnati Bengals. Wara was one of four finalists for the 2012 Gagliardi Trophy.