▁and ▁is ▁recognized ▁by ▁the ▁National ▁Colleg iate ▁Athlet ic ▁Association . ▁ ▁The ▁award ▁is ▁named ▁after ▁former ▁NFL ▁off ensive ▁lin eman ▁Gene ▁U ps h aw , ▁who ▁played ▁college ▁football ▁at ▁Texas ▁A & I ▁University ▁and ▁later ▁for ▁the ▁Oak land ▁Ra iders ▁in ▁the ▁NFL . ▁He ▁was ▁induct ed ▁into ▁both ▁the ▁College ▁Football ▁Hall ▁of ▁Fame ▁and ▁Pro ▁Football ▁Hall ▁of ▁Fame . ▁ ▁C riteria ▁ ▁Must ▁be ▁a ▁junior ▁or ▁senior ▁in ▁athlet ic ▁el ig ibility ▁and ▁competed ▁in ▁at ▁least ▁ 7 0 ▁percent ▁of ▁the ▁team ’ s ▁regular ▁season ▁games . ▁ ▁Must ▁play ▁at ▁one ▁of ▁the ▁following ▁positions : ▁Off ensive ▁Lin emen : ▁tack les , ▁gu ards , ▁cent ers ▁( t ight ▁ends ▁are ▁in el ig ible ); ▁Def ensive ▁Lin emen - ends , ▁tack les , ▁nose ▁gu ards / t ack les . ▁ ▁Must ▁be ▁of ▁good ▁academic ▁standing ▁( el ig ible ▁to ▁comp ete ). ▁In el ig ible ▁players ▁will ▁be ▁dis qual ified . ▁ ▁Must ▁be ▁an ▁All - America ▁or ▁all - region ▁cal iber ▁candidate ▁( 1 st ▁or ▁ 2 nd ▁team ). ▁ ▁Only ▁one ▁nom ine e ▁per ▁institution ▁( reg ard less ▁of ▁position ). ▁ ▁Pre vious ▁w inners ▁ ▁Awards ▁won ▁by ▁school ▁ ▁School s ▁in ▁ital ics ▁are ▁no ▁longer ▁Division ▁II ▁members . ▁ ▁External ▁links ▁Official ▁website ▁ ▁Category : Col lege