NATIONAL FOOTBALL FOUNDATION RELEASE
Award Honors the Top Football Scholar-Athlete in the Country.
MANSFIELD, Mass. – Bentley's Andrew Brazicki and Stonehill's Anton Stoneking are part of a class of 176 semifinalists for the William V. Campbell Trophy, one of college football's most coveted awards, as announced by the National Football Foundation (NFF) & College Hall of Fame on Wednesday.
Brazicki and Stoneking represent the Northeast-10 Conference among the semifinalists for the Campbell Trophy, which celebrates its 32nd year of existence. Just 15 student-athletes from Division II were selected and as an overall class, Campbell Trophy semifinalists had an average GPA of 3.66.
"These 176 impressive candidates truly represent the scholar-athlete ideal," said NFF Chairman Archie Manning. "For more than 60 years, the NFF National Scholar-Athlete Awards have honored more than 800 college football players who have been successful on the football field, in the classroom and as leaders in the community. We are excited to celebrate the 32nd year of the Campbell Trophy, which honors the best of the best. This year's semifinalists further illustrate the power of our great sport in developing the next generation of influential leaders."
It is Brazicki's second time selected as a Campbell Trophy semifinalist. Brazicki, a graduate student who is pursuing his MBA with a concentration in finance, has played in every game for Bentley since arriving on campus in 2017. For his career, he has accumulated 2,263 yards from scrimmage, including 1,749 rushing, and scored 19 touchdowns. He earned a 3.71 GPA in corporate finance and accounting as an undergraduate, making either the President's or Dean's List every semester.
Stoneking, a fifth-year quarterback for Stonehill, has earned a cumulative GPA of 3.55 as a dual major in finance and economics. A two-year starter and team captain this fall, Stoneking has earned Dean's List in six semesters and NE10 Academic Honor Roll in all eight semesters as an undergraduate. He was an All-Conference Third Team and All-Rookie Team selection in 2019 and ranks seventh in school history with 2,804 career passing yards, 359 pass attempts and 222 completions. Stoneking also gives back to the community, volunteering at My Brother's Keeper in Easton, Mass., and has collected donations for the Ronald McDonald House program near his hometown of Clayton, N.C.
The Campbell Trophy recognizes the top football scholar-athlete in the nation for his combined academic success, football performance and exemplary leadership. The NFF will announce 12-to-14 finalists on October 27 and each will receive an $18,000 postgraduate scholarship as a member of the 2021 NFF National Scholar-Athlete Class presented by Fidelity Investments.
The finalists will travel to the ARIA Resort & Casino Las Vegas for the 63rd NFF Annual Awards Dinner presented by Las Vegas on Dec. 7. Live during the event, one member of the class will be declared as the winner and have his postgraduate scholarship increased to $25,000.
Nominated by their schools, which are limited to one nominee each, candidates for the award must be a senior or graduate student in their final year of playing eligibility, have a GPA of at least 3.2 on a 4.0 scale, have outstanding football ability as a first team player or significant contributor and have demonstrated strong leadership and citizenship.
ABOUT THE NE10
Beginning its 40th anniversary season, the NE10 is an association of 14 diverse institutions serving student-athletes across 24 NCAA Division II sports. Together we build brilliant futures by embracing the journey of every student-athlete.
Each year, 4,500 of those student-athletes compete in conference championships in 24 sports, making the NE10 the largest DII conference in the country in terms of sport sponsorship. Leading the way in the classroom, on the field and within the community, the NE10 is proud of its comprehensive program and the experience it provides student-athletes.
