FARMINGTON, Utah (Sept. 29, 2022) - Robby Hauck (Montana), Anthony Sweeney (Northern Arizona), Abel Ordaz (Sacramento State) and Jayce Smalley (UC Davis) were named semifinalists for the 2022 William V. Campbell Trophy® this past week by the National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame (NFF). The Big Sky earned three semifinalists last season, with Montana State's Troy Andersen going on to be a finalist for the award.
Celebrating its 33rd year, the Campbell Trophy® recognizes an individual as the absolute best football scholar-athlete in the nation for his combined academic success, football performance and exemplary leadership. The impressive list of candidates boasts an impressive 3.62 average GPA, with more than half of the semifinalists having already earned their bachelor's degrees.
The NFF will announce 12-14 finalists on Oct. 26, and each of them will receive an $18,000 postgraduate scholarship as a member of the 2022 NFF National Scholar-Athlete Class Presented by Fidelity Investments. The finalists will travel to Bellagio Resort & Casino in Las Vegas for the 64th NFF Annual Awards Dinner Presented by Las Vegas on Dec. 6, where their accomplishments will be highlighted in front of one of the most powerful audiences in all of sports.
Live during the event, one member of the class will be declared as the winner of the 33rd Campbell Trophy® and have his postgraduate scholarship increased to $25,000.
Click here for more information on the Awards Dinner, including options to purchase tickets online, special travel rates to the event from Delta Air Lines and Bellagio and a concierge service provided by the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority.
Launched in 1959, the NFF National Scholar-Athlete Awards Presented by Fidelity Investments celebrate their 64th year in 2022. The awards were the first initiative in history to grant postgraduate scholarships based on both a player's academic and athletic accomplishments, and the NFF has recognized 891 outstanding individuals since the program's inception. This year's postgraduate scholarships will push the program's all-time distribution to more than $12.3 million.
The Campbell Trophy® was first awarded in 1990, adding to the program's prestige. Past recipients include two Rhodes Scholars, a Rhodes Scholar finalist, two Heisman Trophy winners and seven first-round NFL draft picks. Named in honor of the late
Bill Campbell, the trophy has been prominently displayed inside its official home at the New York Athletic Club since 2013, and the winner is honored each year during a special reception at the storied venue.
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2022 Campbell Trophy® semifinalists by division and position:
- 73 Nominees from the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS)
- 37 Nominees from the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision (FCS)
- 13 Nominees from NCAA Division II
- 29 Nominees from NCAA Division III
- 4 Nominees from the NAIA
- 72 Offensive Players
- 65 Defensive Players
- 19 Special Teams Players
2022 William V. Campbell Trophy® Semifinalists (FCS only)
Brown - Lucas Ferraro
Bucknell - Brent Jackson
Columbia - Stewart Newblatt
Cornell - Jake Stebbins
Dartmouth - Nick Howard
Davidson - Bradyn Oakley
Dayton - Jake Chisholm
Eastern Illinois - Isaiah Hill
Fordham - Ryan Greenhagen
Georgetown - Mac Hollensteiner
Harvard - Truman Jones
Holy Cross - Peter Oliver
Houston Christian - Brennan Young
Jacksonville State - Zack Cangelosi
Lamar - Luke Wallis
Maine - Michael Gerace
Marist - Mike Arrington
Montana - Robby Hauck
New Hampshire - Niko Kvietkus
Nicholls - Glen Thurmond
Norfolk State - Marquis Hall
North Dakota - Cade Peterson
Northern Arizona - Anthony Sweeney
Northwestern State - Kaleb Fletcher
Princeton - Michael Ruttlen Jr.
Sacramento State - Abel Ordaz
South Dakota State - Reece Winkelman
St. Thomas - Seth Bickett
Stetson - Ethan Hull
Stonehill - David Satkowski
Stony Brook - Kyle Nunez
Tennessee Tech - Seth Carlisle
Texas A&M-Commerce - Michael Noble
UC Davis - Jayce Smalley
William & Mary - Carlton Fowler
Yale - Oso Ifesinachukwu
Youngstown State - Griffin Hoak