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Dart, Milroe, Majors among William V. Campbell Trophy finalists

10/23/2024
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IRVING, Texas (Oct. 23, 2024) – The National Football Foundation (NFF) & College Hall of Fame announced today the finalists for the 2024 William V. Campbell Trophy®, college football’s premier scholar-athlete award that annually recognizes an individual as the absolute best in the nation for his combined academic success, football performance and exemplary leadership. The 16 finalists will each receive an $18,000 postgraduate scholarship as a member of the 2024 NFF National Scholar-Athlete Class Presented by Fidelity Investments®:

The 16 finalists were selected from a record number of 204 semifinalists nationwide from among all NCAA divisions and the NAIA.

“We are thrilled to announce this year’s finalists for the Campbell Trophy®,” said NFF Chairman Archie Manning, whose sons Peyton (a Campbell Trophy® recipient) and Eli were NFF National Scholar-Athletes in 1997 and 2003, respectively. “These exceptional young men embody an unwavering commitment to excellence in all areas of their lives, from the classroom to the football field. They truly represent the best of college football, and we know they have only begun to reach their potential.”

The finalists will travel to the Bellagio Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas for the 66th NFF Annual Awards Dinner Presented by Las Vegas on Dec. 10, 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 35th 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 room rates at the Bellagio.

“The NFF Awards Committee did an excellent job in selecting this year’s National Scholar-Athletes from among a record number of semifinalists,” said NFF President & CEO Steve Hatchell. “These young men reinforce the promise that the future of football is in great hands. We look forward to celebrating their achievements and honoring their leadership with postgraduate scholarships.”

Submitted by their schools, which are limited to one nominee each, candidates for the Campbell Trophy® must be either a senior player who will complete his final year of eligibility during the 2024 season or be a graduated player or grad transfer who has already earned a bachelor’s degree and will participate in the 2024 season; must have minimum cumulative GPA of 3.2 on a 4.0 scale; must have outstanding football ability as a starter/significant contributor; and must have exhibited exemplary leadership on the field, in the classroom and within the community.

2024 NFF Campbell Trophy® Finalists Highlights

Following the 66th NFF Annual Awards Dinner Presented by Las Vegas, the recipient of the 2024 Campbell Trophy® will be honored at several other prestigious events. On Thursday, Dec. 12, he will be interviewed live during the “The Home Depot College Football Awards” on ESPN. Then on Monday, Dec. 16, a reception will be held in his honor at the New York Athletic Club (NYAC), the official home of the trophy since 2013.

Launched in 1959, the NFF National Scholar-Athlete Awards Presented by Fidelity Investments celebrate its 66th year in 2024. The awards were the first initiative in history to grant postgraduate scholarships based on both a player’s academic and athletic accomplishments. Since 2011, Fidelity Investments, a leading provider of workplace savings plans in higher education, has served as the presenting sponsor of the NFF National Scholar-Athlete Awards.

As part of its support of the NFF National Scholar-Athlete Awards, Fidelity Investments helped launch the NFF Faculty Salutes, which recognize the contributions of the faculty athletics representatives at each of the institutions with a finalist for the Campbell Trophy®. The NFF presents each of the faculty athletics representatives with a plaque and Fidelity donates $5,000 for the academic support services at each school. The salutes have recognized 198 FARs since the program’s inception, and Fidelity has made a total of $990,000 (including $80,000 this year) in donations.

Including the 2024 Campbell Trophy® finalists, the NFF has honored 938 individuals with National Scholar-Athlete Awards, and this year’s postgraduate scholarships will push the program’s all-time distribution to more than $12.9 million.

Past recipients have used their postgraduate scholarships to set the standard for excellence in our society, earning more than 177 medical degrees, 108 law degrees, 83 MBAs and 46 PhDs. Others have used their financial backing to enhance successful careers in finance, consulting and engineering. Continuing their excellence on the field, more than 270 recipients have played in the NFL with an average career of six seasons or double the length of a typical NFL player. Past recipients also include 13 Rhodes Scholars and six Heisman Trophy winners.

Past NFF National Scholar-Athletes have made it big in a variety of fields, including actor and film producer Mark Harmon (UCLA); Houston Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans (Alabama); NASA astronauts Leland Melvin (Richmond) and Michael Hopkins (Illinois); and current athletics directors: Trev Alberts (Texas A&M) and Josh Whitman (Illinois). NFF National Scholar-Athletes who became NFL stalwarts include Drew BreesDerek CarrKirk CousinsDoug FlutieJoey GallowayBrian GrieseJustin Herbert, Jeff HostetlerBradie JamesTyler Lockett, Alex MackJohnny MussoRyan TannehillJoe ThomasJonathan Vilma, Wesley Walls and Christian Wilkins, among many others.

A total of 44 former National Scholar-Athletes have been inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame and eight are in the Pro Football Hall of Fame as well: Tony Boselli (Southern California), Derrick Brooks (Florida State), Dave Casper (Notre Dame), Randy Gradishar (Ohio State), Peyton Manning (Tennessee), Merlin Olsen (Utah State), Lee Roy Selmon (Oklahoma) and Steve Young (BYU). Click here for a database of all the past NFF National Scholar-Athletes.

The Campbell Trophy®, first awarded in 1990 to Air Force’s Chris Howard, has added to the program’s prestige. Past recipients include two Rhodes Scholars, a Rhodes Scholar finalist, two Heisman Trophy winners and nine first-round NFL draft picks. For the complete list of former winners, please click here.

The trophy is named in honor of the late Bill Campbell, an All-Ivy League player and the captain of Columbia’s 1961 Ivy League championship team who found his true calling after an unlikely career change at age 39 from Columbia football coach to advertising executive. His ability to recruit, develop and manage talented executives – all lessons learned on the gridiron – proved to be a critical component of his ability to inspire his business teams to the highest levels of success.

As the CEO and chairman of Intuit, Campbell’s strong leadership and unique talent in building teams allowed him to become one of the most influential individuals in Silicon Valley. Using the lessons of the gridiron he mentored Steve Jobs of Apple, Jeff Bezos of Amazon, Sheryl Sandberg of Facebook, Larry Page, Sergey Brin, Sundar Pichai and Eric Schmidt of Google, Scott Cook and Brad Smith of Intuit, John Doerr of Kleiner-Perkins, Dick Costolo at Twitter, Diane Greene of VMWare and countless others. His contributions have been captured in a book titled “The Trillion Dollar Coach,” and during his lifetime, he affectionally became known as the “Coach of Silicon Valley.”

Campbell joined the NFF Board in 1978 while he was still a coach at Columbia, and he continued to serve with distinction until his passing in 2016. In 2004, the NFF recognized Campbell’s contributions and accomplishments by presenting him with the NFF Gold Medal, the organization’s highest honor. In 2009, the NFF renamed college football’s premier scholar-athlete award as The William V. Campbell Trophy® as an inspiration to future generations.

Bios for the 2024 Campbell Trophy® Finalists &
Members of the 2024 NFF National Scholar-Athlete Class,

Presented by Fidelity Investments
(In alphabetical order – All stats as of Oct. 23, 2024)

Tahj Brooks, RB – Texas Tech
3.55 GPA – Sport Management
Head Coach: Joey McGuire | Athletics Director: Kirby Hocutt
Faculty Athletics Representative: Brian Shannon
Recipient of National Football League Scholar-Athlete Award

A punishing rusher at 5-feet-10 and 230 pounds, with excellent vision and balance, Tahj Brooks has established himself as one of the top running backs in the nation while amassing a 3.55 GPA in the classroom. The Manor, Texas, native now become the Red Raiders sixth NFF National Scholar-Athlete.

A three-time First Team Academic All-Big 12 pick, Brooks graduated last December with a degree in sport management with a minor in advertising. He is currently working towards a certificate in sports communications. He is a Dean’s List and is a President’s List honoree.

A 2023 First Team All-Big 12 selection, Brooks has rushed for 3,856 yards in his career, needing 363 yards to become the all-time leading rusher in Texas Tech history. He has rushed for 804 yards this season, which ranks him 11th in the nation. During his stellar 2023 season, Brooks rushed for 1,538 yards, the fourth best in school history, and he ranked second in the Big 12, averaging 118.3 rushing yards per game, and both numbers placed him fourth in the nation last year.

Currently averaging 5.4 yards per carry during his career, Brooks is looking to become only the fourth Red Raider in program history to lead the team in rushing in four different seasons. He holds multiple spots in the Red Raiders records books, including rushing attempts, career 100-yard games, rushing touchdowns and touchdown totals and career all-purpose yards.

A 2024 team captain, his efforts have contributed to three straight bowl victories at the 2021 Liberty Bowl, 2022 Texas Bowl and the 2023 Independence Bowl. The Red Raiders are currently 5-2 and rank fourth in the Big 12.

Off the field, Brooks has hosted a youth football camp in his hometown the last two summers. He is a regular participant in the team’s community service initiatives, often visiting local schools to mentor students in the area. He is a member of head coach Joey McGuire’s captains circle of upperclassmen leaders, and he interned with the athletics department’s communication office in 2023.
(All stats as of Oct. 23, 2024)

Robert Coury, LB – Carnegie Mellon (PA)
3.97 GPA – Mechanical Engineering
Head Coach: Ryan Larsen | Athletics Director: Josh Centor
Faculty Athletics Representative: Rebecca Nugent
Recipient of New York Athletic Club Scholar-Athlete Award

A two-time First Team All-American, Robert Coury embodies everything the Campbell Trophy® represents, leading Carnegie Mellon in tackles each of the last three seasons while producing a near flawless 3.97 GPA in the classroom. The Phillipsburg, New Jersey, native now becomes the sixth NFF National Scholar-Athlete.

Coury graduated summa cum laude in May with a degree in mechanical engineering, and he is currently pursuing a master’s in the same field. A two-time CSC First Team Academic All-American, he is a member of the Dean’s List and has made the Presidents’ Athletic Conference (PAC) four times.

By the end of his first three seasons, Coury had amassed 280 tackles (third in Tartan annals), 44 tackles for loss (a school record), 17 sacks, 11 pass break ups, three forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, one interception and one blocked kick in his first three seasons, and he continues to add to his totals, which now include 330 tackles (needing just 28 more for the record), 20 sacks, and 55.5 tackles for loss. He was a finalist for the Cliff Harris Award in 2022, which goes to the top defensive player in Division III, and he has been named to the D3Football.com All-Region team three times.

A three-year team captain with 43 starts, Coury is the force behind a Carnegie Mellon defense that has led the PAC in scoring defense for the last three seasons, and his efforts have helped the Tartans to back-to-back PAC titles in 2021 and 2022. The 2022 squad posted a perfect 10-0 regular season, finishing with a No. 14 national ranking, the highest in school history. In 2023, the team finished 10-1, winning the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Asa. S. Bushnell Bowl. The Tartans are currently 5-1 and rank third in the PAC.

Coury has landed impressive internships with Mack Trucks, a subsidiary of the Volvo Group; Tesla; and Curtiss-Wright. He has volunteered with the Special Olympics, “Be the Match” bone marrow registration, and has packed meals for the Rise Against Hunger Foundation. He is a member of the Alpha Sigma Phi fraternity, the Sports Analytics Club and Cru. His twin brother, Tommy, also plays for CMU.
(All stats as of Oct. 23, 2024)

Jaxson Dart, QB – Ole Miss
3.71 GPA – Business
Head Coach: Lane Kiffin | Athletics Director: Keith Carter
Faculty Athletics Representative: Ron Rychlak
Recipient of Coach Vince Dooley Scholar-Athlete Award

A phenomenal leader who impacts those around him with an unmatched work ethic, Jaxson Dart guided the Rebels to their first ever 11-win season while carving out an impressive record in the classroom. The Kaysville, Utah, native now becomes the ninth NFF National Scholar-Athlete from Ole Miss.

Dart has maintained a 3.71 GPA as a business major, twice earning a spot on the Chancellor’s Honor Roll. He is also a member of the SEC Honor Roll, the Dean’s Honor Roll, and the Athletics Director’s Honor Roll. He is on pace to graduate in May 2025.

A team captain, Dart quarterbacked Ole Miss to an 11-2 record last season, culminating with a Peach Bowl win over Penn State and a final No. 9 ranking, the school’s highest finish since 1969. In 2022, with Dart, under center, Ole Miss finished 8-5 with an appearance in the Texas Bowl. Ole Miss currently has a 5-2 record, sitting at No. 18 in the AP Poll.

Dart, who is closing in on several all-time school records after orchestrating two of the best offensive seasons in Ole Miss history, has completed 610 passes for 8,722 yards and 57 touchdowns while having rushed for 1,186 yards and 12 scores. He helped set the Ole Miss single game passing record with 524 yards against Mercer in 2023 and again in 2024 with 529 yards against Furman, and he holds the Ole Miss bowl game records, passing for 379 yards in the 2023 Peach Bowl and amassing 427 yards of total offense in the 2022 Texas Bowl.

In 2024, he ranks third in the nation with a 182.07 passing efficiency rating, third in the nation for passing yards 2,384, fourth in the nation passing for 340.57 yards per game and second in the nation for total offense with 366.7 yards per game. His career totals include another 1,353 passing yards and nine touchdowns as a true freshman at Southern California.

Dart’s involvement in the community includes reading at local elementary schools; the Tim Tebow Foundation’s “Night to Shine” prom for special needs high school students; hosting foster children on campus during a Christmas gift giving program; the annual “Feed the Sip” food drive; a Thanksgiving food drive; and assisting with a water collection drive during the crisis in Jackson, Mississippi.
(All stats as of Oct. 23, 2024)

Beau Freyler, DB – Iowa State
3.91 GPA – Kinesiology
Head Coach: Matt Campbell | Athletics Director: Jamie Pollard
Faculty Athletics Representative: Tim Day
Recipient of John H. McConnell Scholar-Athlete Award, Endowed by John H. McConnell

Described by head coach Matt Campbell as an unbelievable servant-leader, Beau Freyler has become known for his ability to inspire his team and leading by example. The Colorado Springs, Colorado, native now becomes the fifth NFF National Scholar-Athlete and the first since his teammate Charlie Kolar won the Campbell Trophy® in 2021.

Having maintained a near perfect 3.91 GPA as a kinesiology major, Freyler claimed CSC First Team Academic All-America honors in 2023, making him only the 10th player in school history to claim the honor and just the eighth to land First Team distinction. A two-time CSC Academic All-District selection and a two-time Academic All-Big 12 pick, Freyler has landed on the Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll six times. He is on pace to graduate in May 2025.

Earning Second Team AP All-Big 12 honors in 2023, Freyler recorded 107 tackles last season, making him the first Cyclone to eclipse 100 tackles in a season since 2017. Eight games into the 2024 season, his career totals include 258 tackles, eight tackles for loss, one sack, six interceptions, 16 passes defended and one forced fumble.

A two-year captain, his efforts helped the Cyclones earn appearances in the 2023 Liberty Bowl and 2021 Cheez-It-Bowl. He landed All-Big 12 Honorable Mention honors in 2022 and 2021. Currently, the Cyclones stand tied atop the Big 12 Conference undefeated at 7-0, ranking No. 10 in the national polls.

Boasting the most community service hours among all Iowa State male student-athletes in 2023-24, Freyler claimed the Cyclone Serve Award. He spent time with underprivileged youth at Wildwood Hills Ranch, and he participated in a YSS Mentorship Program. He collected food and monetary donations for the CyCan food drive to feed the hungry, and he helped at Victory Day, which allows those with mental and physical needs to take the field at Jack Trice Stadium. He also participated in local hospital visits, Make-A-Wish fundraisers and Meals from the Heartland.
(All stats as of Oct. 23, 2024)

Dillon Gabriel, QB – Oregon
3.43 GPA – Multidisciplinary Studies
Head Coach: Dan Lanning | Athletics Director: Rob Mullens
Faculty Athletics Representative: Joshua Gordon
Recipient of Coach Bobby Bowden Scholar-Athlete Award, Endowed by Phil Knight and Nike

Possessing exceptional leadership qualities, Dillon Gabriel has quarterbacked Oregon to the top of the polls while excelling in the classroom at the highest levels. The Mililani, Hawai’i, native now becomes the fifth Duck recognized as an NFF National Scholar-Athlete, following Bo Nix who won the Campbell Trophy® last season and Justin Herbert, the 2019 winner.

Having maintained a 3.43 GPA as a multidisciplinary studies major, Gabriel graduated in May 2023 from Oklahoma where he began pursuing a master’s degree in human relations. Prior to OU, he played his freshman and sophomore seasons at UCF, twice making the Academic All-AAC Team. Transferring to Oregon for his final year of eligibility, he is currently in a post-baccalaureate program at Oregon.

A two-time All-Big 12 performer, earning First Team honors in 2023 after making the Second Team in 2022, and a Second Team All-AAC selection in 2020, Gabriel has played in 56 games with 55 starts, including the 2020 COVID season, and he is on pace to break the NCAA record for career starts (61) held by 2023 Campbell Trophy® winner Bo Nix. He stands third in NCAA history for career touchdown passes (140) and third for career passing yards (16,963) and second in total career yards (18,115.) Gabriel currently ranks 8th in the nation for passing efficiency with a 173.33-mark, 9th in the nation for passing yards with 2,098, and ninth for passing yards per game with 299.71.

Gabriel has led the Ducks to a perfect 7-0 record and a No. 1 ranking during the first eight weeks of the 2024 season, including a thrilling 32-31 win against Ohio State in Week 7. During his time with Oklahoma, he helped the Sooners to a 10-3 season and a No. 12 final ranking in 2023. He also quarterbacked the Sooners to back-to-back post-season appearances in the Alamo Bowl and Cheez-It Bowl. At UCF, he led the Black Knights to a 10-3 record and a final No. 24 ranking in 2019, and he guided the Black Knights to two Gasparilla Bowl wins in 2019 and 2021.

Active in the community, Gabriel helped build more than 200 beds for underprivileged children, and he organized a youth basketball game in Eugene. He bought Nike uniforms for his former high school team in Hawai’i, and he has organized team-building retreats for his fellow Ducks. His father, Garrett, was a quarterback at Hawai’i from 1986-90.
(All stats as of Oct. 23, 2024)

Ashton Gillotte, DL – Louisville
3.69 GPA – Communications
Head Coach: Jeff Brohm | Athletics Director: Josh Heird
Faculty Athletics Representative: Krista Wallace-Boaz
Recipient of F.M. Kirby Scholar-Athlete Award, Funded by the National Football Foundation

An exceptional student-athlete, Ashton Gillotte has continuously reached new levels of excellence on the field and in the classroom. The Boca Raton, Florida, native now becomes the first ever NFF National Scholar-Athlete from Louisville.

Having graduated magna cum laude in 3.5 years last December with a degree in communications, Gillotte claimed honors as a CSC First Team Academic All-American in 2023. A two-time Academic All-ACC honoree, Gillotte is a 2024 finalist for the Arthur Ashe Sport Scholar award. He is a member of the 2024 NFF Hampshire Honor Society, the ACC Academic Honor Roll and the Dean’s List. He is currently pursuing post-baccalaureate work.

The leader of the defensive line, Gillotte led Louisville to a 10-4 record in 2023, appearing in the ACC Championship Game against Florida State. The Cards finished second in the ACC and No. 19 in the national polls. Gillotte’s efforts have helped the Cards appear in three consecutive bowl games, including a win in the 2022 Fenway Bowl. Louisville is currently 4-3 through Week 8 of the 2024 season.

A Second Team All-America selection in 2023, Gillotte career totals currently include 105 tackles, 32 tackles for loss, 23 sacks (placing him 9th in school history), one pass breakup, three force fumbles and three fumble recovery. His 11 sacks in 2023 led the ACC and placed him eighth nationally last season. His performance in 2023 earned him First Team All-ACC honors, and he finished as the runner-up for the ACC Defensive Player of the Year. He was an Honorable Mention All-ACC selection in 2022.

Active in the community, Gillotte set up a program to donate game tickets to the military, and he has donated most of his NIL money to the West End School and the Dare to Care Food Bank. He represented the Cards during ACC Media Days.
(All stats as of Oct. 23, 2024)

Brody Grebe, DE – Montana State
3.93 GPA – Mechanical Engineering
Head Coach: Brent Vigen | Athletics Director: Leon Costello
Faculty Athletics Representative:  Dawn Tarabochia
Recipient of Robert A. Simms Scholar-Athlete Award, Endowed by Robert A. Simms

Growing up on a Montana ranch, Brody Grebe learned early on that nothing is given to you and success takes a lot of hard work, and those lessons have manifested themselves in an exceptional record of success on the field and in the classroom. The Melstone, Montana, native now becomes the sixth Montana State NFF National Scholar-Athlete.

Maintaining a 3.93 GPA as a mechanical engineering major, Grebe graduated summa cum laude in May and is currently working on a master’s degree. A 2023 CSC First Team Academic All-American, Grebe is an FCS Athletics Directors Association Scholar-Athlete and a postgraduate scholarship finalist. He is a three-time Academic All-Big Sky Team selection and a member of the President’s List and the Dean’s List.

A two-year captain, Grebe led the 2023 Bobcats (8-4) to the second round of the FCS Playoffs last season and the 2022 team (12-2) to the Big Sky title, the FCS Semifinals, and a final No. 4 ranking.  During his redshirt freshman campaign in 2021, the team finished 12-3 and played in the FCS National Championship. Currently undefeated this season at 8-0, Montana State is ranked No. 2 in the national poll.

A two-time All-American, earning Second Team honors in 2023 and a Third Team selection in 2022, Grebe career totals include 131 tackles, 33 tackles for loss, 24.5 sacks, and six force fumbles. His sack totals (0.83 per game) in 2023 ranked him ninth in the FCS and fourth in the Big Sky. His 1.1 tackles for loss per game placed him fourth in the league.

Grebe’s community service efforts include volunteering with Habitat for Humanity, the local Blood drive, and as a potential bone marrow donor. He has prepared Thanksgiving meals for the underprivileged; read books to students at local elementary schools; and coached flag football teams.

Grebe was selected to wear No. 41 for his senior season, which is one of the highest honors a Bobcat player can receive as an annual tribute to the 13 Bobcat players who died during World War II in 1941 and to Montana’s status as the 41st state inducted into the Union. His brother Bryce is a redshirt freshman on the team.
(All stats as of Oct. 23, 2024)

Mark Gronowski, QB – South Dakota State
3.76 GPA – Mechanical Engineering
Head Coach: Jimmy Rogers | Athletics Director: Justin Sell
Faculty Athletics Representative:  Dr. Donna Flint
Recipient of E. Douglas Kenna Scholar-Athlete Award, Endowed by Robert A. Simms

One of the most decorated players in FCS history, Mark Gronowski has led South Dakota State to consecutive national championships while maintaining an impressive GPA in the classroom. The Naperville, Illinois, native now becomes the fifth NFF National Scholar-Athlete from South Dakota State.

Maintaining a 3.76 GPA in mechanical engineering, Gronowski graduated in May and is currently pursuing his master’s degree in engineering management. Named the 2023 FCS Athletic Director Association (ADA) Scholar-Athlete of the Year and Academic All-Star, Gronowski claimed Second Team CSC Academic All-America honors in 2023. He is both a two-time CSC Academic All-District selection and a First Team Academic Missouri Valley Football Conference (MVFC) pick.

A three-year team captain, Gronowski led South Dakota State to consecutive FCS National Championship titles the past two years and a title game appearance during the 2020-21 season. He was named MVP in both the wins. He boasts a 42-5 record as a starter, including seven games in 2024, giving him a shot at ending his career as the all-time winningest quarterback in Division-I history, needing 50 wins to tie the FBS record and 48 in the FCS. The team has won three-consecutive MVFC titles with him under center, and the Jackrabbits are currently 5-2 this season with a No. 3 national ranking.

Named a First Team All-American in 2023, Gronowski claimed the Walter Payton Award as the top offensive player in the FCS, and he also claimed honors as the 2023 FCS ADA Offensive Player of the Year. He has twice been named the MVFC Offensive Player of the Year (2023, 2020-21), and he claimed honors as a Hero Sports Sophomore All-American in 2022 and as a Freshman All-American in 2021.

Gronowski led the FCS in passing efficiency in 2023 with a 179.6 rating, and his career totals 8,811 passing yards and 81 touchdowns and another 1,599 rushing yards and 30 touchdowns.

In the community, Gronowski volunteered for the Special Olympics and coached flag football with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. He also served as an FCA camp counselor and student leader on the FCA Council. He has served on the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee for three years, and he was part of a South Dakota State engineering design team, creating low-cost prosthetics for those in war-torn countries.
(All stats as of Oct. 23, 2024)

Terrance Hollon, LB – Howard
3.90 GPA – Health Science
Head Coach: Larry Scott | Athletics Director: Kery Davis
Faculty Athletics Representative: Deborah Johnson
Recipient of Coach Eddie Robinson Scholar-Athlete Award, Endowed by the George M. Steinbrenner Family and the New York Yankees

A feared defender who has helped Howard University rise to the top of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Terrance Hollon has dominated opponents on the field as well as his studies in the classroom. The Cleveland, Ohio, native now becomes the first NFF National Scholar-Athlete in Howard history.

On pace to graduate in May 2025, Hollon has maintained an impressive 3.90 GPA as a health science major at Howard with plans to study physical therapy as a postgraduate student. A member of the MEAC All-Academic Team, Hollon was named a 2023 FCS Athletics Directors Association (ADA) Academic All-Star and a member of the 2024 Arthur Ashe Sports Scholar First Team.

A three-year team captain, Hollon has led the Bison to back-to-back MEAC Championships in 2022 and 2023, marking the school’s first titles since 1993. His efforts culminated with the Bison appearing in their first-ever Cricket Celebration Bowl appearance in 2023.

Hollon has started in all 40 games of his college career in Washington, D.C, and he was a First Team All-MEAC selection in 2023 and Third Team pick in 2022. Hollon led the Bison and ranked sixth in the MEAC last season with 67 tackles, 45 of which were solos. In the 2023 homecoming victory over Norfolk State, he made a season-high 13 tackles (nine solos). In 2022, he had a season-best 14 tackles against North Carolina Central.

His career totals included 194 tackles, 13 tackles for loss, 6.5 sacks, one interception, two passes defended, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries.

In the community, Hollon has been active with the Grassroots Bison and Athletes 4 Hope initiatives. Hollon credits the lessons taught by his late grandmother, and reinforced by his mother, for enabling him to overcome the challenges of growing up in a rough area of Cleveland and succeeding at the highest levels on the field and in the classroom at one of the most prestigious HBCUs in the country.
(All stats as of Oct. 23, 2024)

 Jack Kiser, LB – Notre Dame
3.82 GPA – Business Analytics
Head Coach: Marcus Freeman | Athletics Director: Pete Bevacqua
Faculty Athletics Representative:  Patricia Bellia
Recipient of Jefferson W. Kirby Scholar-Athlete Award, Endowed by the F.M. Kirby Foundation

A true leader, Jack Kiser grew up on a family farm in rural Indiana, learning a work ethic that has made him an exceptional student-athlete. The Royal Center, Indiana, native now becomes the 20th Notre Dame NFF National Scholar-Athlete, following his teammate and 2023 honoree JD Bertrand.

Already having two degrees in hand, Kiser graduated cum laude in May 2022, majoring in business analytics and maintaining a 3.82 GPA. A 2023 CSC Academic All-District pick, Kiser earned his master’s of accountancy in 2023, and he is currently pursuing further graduate education in arts & letters. He earned the Tom Frecka Academic Achievement Award for posting the top GPA (3.97) in the entire Notre Dame Master of Accountancy program. A member of the 2024 NFF Hampshire Honor Society, Kiser claimed the Dean’s Graduate Business Award.

A team captain, Kiser has been among the top tacklers on a Notre Dame defense the past three seasons, including last year when the Irish defense ranked No. 1 in the nation for passing efficiency and No. 2 for red zone defense. His career totals include 219 tackles, 11 tackles for loss, four sacks, four interceptions (two pick-sixes), 10 pass defended, five forced fumbles and a blocked kick. His 65 tackles in 2023 placed him third among Irish defenders and his 58 tackles in 2022 ranked him second on the team. This year, he currently ranks second on the team with 34 tackles.

Earning Notre Dame Special Teams Player of the Year honors in 2023, Kiser has helped the Irish rank nationally each year he has been on the roster. Last season, his efforts contributed to an Irish win in the Sun Bowl and a final No. 14 ranking. In 2022, the team claimed a Gator Bowl victory and a final No. 18 ranking. In 2021, Notre Dame finished at No. 8 after an appearance in the Fiesta Bowl, and the 2020 team landed an appearance in the CFP Semifinal in the Rose Bowl, ending the season with a No. 5 ranking. Through Week 8 of the 2024 season, the Irish rank No. 12 with a 6-1 record.

A member of the 2024 AFCA Good Works Team, Kiser has been an exceptional leader in the community as chairman of Notre Dame’s “Cleats for a Cause,” which raises money for local charities by auctioning the team’s footwear. For three years, he has been the team lead for the Irish Fight for Life, pairing pediatric patients with Irish athletes, and he spent two months preparing tax returns for low-income families. His other community activities include Uplifting Athletes, the Ronald McDonald House, and ticket-giveaways for youth football teams.
(All stats as of Oct. 23, 2024)

Luke Lehnen, QB – North Central (IL)
3.76 GPA – Exercise Science
Head Coach: Brad Spencer | Athletics Director: Jim Miller
Faculty Athletics Representative:  Dr. Daniel “Rocky” VanHorn
Recipient of Coach Lou Saban Scholar-Athlete Award, Endowed by George M. Steinbrenner III

Luke Lehen proves one can really do it all, having risen to the highest levels on the field as a Gagliardi Trophy winner, in the classroom graduating magna cum laude, and as a leader in the community. The Chatham, Illinois, native, now becomes the first ever NFF National Scholar-Athlete from North Central.

Graduating magna cum laude last December with a 3.76 GPA as an exercise science major, Lehnen is currently pursuing a master’s in sports leadership. A two-time CSC First Team Academic All-American, Lehnen is also a two-time Academic All-CCIW (College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin) selection and a member of the Dean’s List.

Claiming the 2023 Gagliardi Trophy, presented to the best Division III player in the nation, Lehnen has quarterbacked North Central to an astounding 48-2 overall record (including 6-0 thus far this season and currently ranked No. 1). Behind his leadership, the Cardinals won the Division III National Championship in 2022, and they appeared in the title game in 2021 and 2023, finishing as the national runner up. The Cardinals have won three CCIW titles with Lehnen under center, and the team has notched a No. 1 ranking in 30 of the last 33 D3Football.com regular season polls.

A two-year team captain and a 2023 First Team All-American, Lehnen was named the D3Football.com National Offensive Player of the Year and the CCIW Offensive Player of the Year in 2023. He is a three-time All-CCIW selection, making the First Team in 2023 and 2021 and the Second Team in 2022.

Lehnen made college football history Oct. 19 when he became the first player in any division to throw a touchdown pass in 50 consecutive games. His career totals currently include 10,725 passing yards and 135 touchdowns while rushing for 2,691 yards and 42 touchdowns. He ranks second in Division III with 16.99 yards per completion, and his 201.79 passing efficiency rating ranks fourth. Lehnen led the nation in completion percentage (73.3), touchdown passes (48) and points responsible for (366) last season, and he set Division III records for passing efficiency (263.2), yards per pass (14.7), yards per completion (20.0) and percentage of passes completed for touchdowns (20.7%) in 2023. Lehenen is North Central’s all-time leader in rushing yards and rushing touchdowns by a quarterback, and he is the first Cardinal quarterback to rush for 1,000 yards in a single season.

Active in the community, Lehnen has volunteered with Special Olympics, Feed My Starving Children, the Northen Illinois Food Bank, a K-8 summer camp and as a strength and conditioning coach for high school teams in his hometown. A two-sport athlete, Lehnen is also a four-year starter and two-time All-CCIW selection with the North Central baseball team.
(All stats as of Oct. 23, 2024)

Brayden Long, QB – Slippery Rock (PA)
4.00 GPA – Sport Management
Head Coach: Shawn Lutz | Athletics Director: Dr. Roberta Page
Faculty Athletics Representative:  Dr. Joanne Leight
Recipient of William Pearce Scholar-Athlete Award, Endowed by William A. Schreyer

A tremendous leader, Brayden Long charted a course that has produced a phenomenal list of achievements during his college career at The Rock. The Hanover, Pennsylvania, native, now becomes the third NFF National Scholar-Athlete from Slippery Rock.

Boasting a perfect 4.00 GPA as a sport management major, Long graduated summa cum laude in May. He is continuing post-baccalaureate studies in physical activity and fitness management. A 2023 CSC Second Team Academic All-American, Long was selected as one of only 26 DII men from all sports to receive an NCAA Division II 50th Anniversary Scholarship, and he was the only football player in the country to be recognized as a 2023-24 Regional Scholar-Athlete of the Year by the DII Conference Commissioners Association. The 2023-24 Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year, Long is a four-time PSAC Scholar-Athlete selection and has made the Dean’s List every semester.

A two-year team captain, Long has quarterbacked SRU to the PSAC West title and a Division II Playoff appearance every year of his career. Long led the 2023 team to a perfect 10-0 regular season, the Division II Quarterfinals and a No. 10 final ranking. SRU finished with a No. 16 national ranking in 2022 and No. 20 in 2021. Seven games into the 2024 season, The Rock are 6-1.

Earning All-America Honorable Mention honors in 2023, Long finished fifth in the national voting for the Harlon Hill Trophy, which goes to the Division II Player of the Year. The 2023 Division II Super Region One Offensive Player of the Year, Long is the only player in PSAC football history to win both Athlete of the Year honors and the league’s Champion Scholar Award.

Long’s career totals currently include 5,629 passing yards and 49 touchdowns while rushing for 104 yards and nine touchdowns. His 69.3 completion percentage in 2023 set the Rock single-season record and his career 67.6 completion percentage is the all-time SRU record. His 3,808 passing yards and 35 passing touchdowns in 2023 are both No. 2 in SRU single-season history.

Active in the community, Long co-launched “Team ROCK,” a student-athlete led ministry on campus, and he serves on the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. His volunteer efforts include the Special Olympics; the American Cancer Society Relay of Life; Read Across America; and assisting with youth sports in Slippery Rock and his hometown.
(All stats as of Oct. 23, 2024)

Jake Majors, C – Texas
3.65 GPA – Business Management
Head Coach: Steve Sarkisian | Athletics Director: Chris Del Conte
Faculty Athletics Representative: Michael Clement
Recipient of James J. Campbell Scholar-Athlete Award, Endowed by William V. Campbell

At 6-foot-3 and 315 pounds, Jake Major has dominated opponents on the Texas offensive line for the past four seasons while excelling in the classroom. The Prosper, Texas, native, now becomes the 13th NFF National Scholar-Athlete from Texas.

A 2023 CSC Second Team Academic All-American, Majors graduated in May 2023 with a 3.65 GPA, majoring in business management. A member of the 2024 NFF Hampshire Honor Society, Majors has been selected three times as a First-Team Academic Big-12 Member, landing on the Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll seven times. He is continuing his postgraduate studies in sports management.

Playing in 49 games with 48 starts, Majors helped Texas win the Big 12 title in 2023, earning a berth in the College Football Playoff Semifinal at the Sugar Bowl. The team finished 12-2 and No. 3 in the final rankings. He helped the 2022 team to an Alamo Bowl appearance and a final No. 25 ranking. The 2024 Longhorns currently rank No. 5 in the polls with a 6-1 record, and the four-year starter is closing in on the Longhorns’ all-time record for career starts which stands at 55.

A 2023 All-Big 12 Honorable Mention pick, Majors is one of four returning starters from last year’s Joe Moore Award semifinalist unit that ranked ninth in total offense (477.5), 15th in scoring offense (35.8 ppg), 17th in passing offense (289.1) and 24th in rushing offense (188.4.) The unit helped Jonathon Brooks rush for 1,139 yards and 10 touchdowns while Quinn Ewers passed for 3,479 yards and 22 touchdowns. In 2022, Majors was part of the offensive line that blocked for Doak Walker Award winner Bijan Robinson, who rushed for 1,580 yards.

This season, Majors has been the center on an UT offense that ranks 17th in the nation in scoring offense (39.1 ppg), 15th in total offense (461.9 ypg) and 16th in passing offense (295.7 ypg). He is a semifinalist for the Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year award as well as being tabbed the Outland Trophy National Player of the Week and SEC Offensive Lineman of the Week after Texas’ victory at Michigan.

Majors has been a member of the Texas Student-Athlete Advisory Committee for three years and is an active member of the Silver Spurs, which encourages students to be positive agents of change as they care for BEVO, the school’s official mascot. Majors’ numerous volunteer activities include Hungry Souls, packing food for the underprivileged; Mobile Loaves & Fishes, a social outreach ministry for the homeless; and participating in activities with the Salvation Army and at the Dell Children’s Medical Center.
(All stats as of Oct. 23, 2024)

Seth McLaughlin, C – Ohio State
4.00 GPA – Finance
Head Coach: Ryan Day | Athletics Director: Ross Bjork
Faculty Athletics Representative:  John Davidson
Recipient of Woody and Anne Hayes Scholar-Athlete Award

An outstanding football player, Seth McLauglin has crafted a college resume that showcases his commitment to excellence on and off the field. The Buford, Georgia, native, now becomes the 23rd NFF National Scholar-Athlete from Ohio State.

Graduating summa cum laude from Alabama after only 2.5 years with a perfect 4.0 GPA in 2022, McLauglin continued his studies while playing for the Crimson Tide, earning a master’s in sport hospitality management last December. A 2023 CSC First Team Academic All-American, McLaughlin began working on a third degree in human development and family science after transferring to Ohio State for the 2024 spring semester. A two-time CSC Academic All-District selection, McLauglin made the SEC Academic Honor Roll four times, the President’s List four times and the Dean’s List at Alabama.

Through Week 8 of this year, McLauglin has helped the Buckeyes to a 5-1 record and a No. 4 national ranking. At Alabama, he helped the Crimson Tide win the 2020 College Football Playoff National Championship (CFP) in 2020; finish as the national runner-up in 2021; and appear in the CFP Semifinal last season at the Rose Bowl. During McLauglin’s time in Tuscaloosa, the Tide appeared in four New Year’s Six bowl games, winning the 2021 Rose, 2021 Cotton, 2022 Sugar bowls and appearing in the 2024 Rose Bowl. Alabama finished no lower than No. 5 and won three titles during his career.

McLauglin has helped Ohio State rank 6th nationally for both total offense with 503 yards per game and scoring offense with 43.5 points per game, and the Buckeyes are one of five teams with a red zone success rate of 100 pct. Additionally, Ohio State’s offensive line is a quarterfinalist for the Joe Moore Award, ranks seventh nationally by allowing just five quarterback sacks all season, and ranks third nationally in fewest tackles for loss allowed (16.)

Last season, McLauglin played on an Alabama offensive unit that averaged 393.1 yards per game of total offense and averaged 34 points per game. In 2022 with McLaughlin at center, the Tide offense ranked No. 4 nationally in scoring offense (41.1 ppg), No. 11 total offense (477.1 ypg), No. 19 passing offense (281.6 ypg) and the No. 36 rushing attack (195.5 ypg.)

Active in the community, McLauglin volunteered at the OSU 4-miler benefitting the Ohio State Comprehensive Cancer Center, and he took part in the Run Out 5K for muscular dystrophy. His other volunteer work has included Habitat for Humanity; Read Across America; Alberta Head Start; and the Veterans Administration Medical Center.
(All stats as of Oct. 23, 2024)

Jalen Milroe, QB – Alabama
3.65 GPA – Management
Head Coach: Kalen DeBoer | Athletics Director: Greg Byrne
Faculty Athletics Representative: Dr. James E. King Jr.
Recipient of Coach Paul “Bear” Bryant Scholar-Athlete Award

Crediting his parents’ military background for his work ethic, Jalen Milroe has established himself as one of the premier college quarterbacks in the nation while achieving the highest levels of success in the classroom. The Katy, Texas, native now becomes the seventh NFF National Scholar-Athlete from Alabama.

Majoring in management and graduating cum laude last December with a 3.52 GPA, Milroe is currently pursuing a master’s in sports management. A 2023 CSC Academic All-District selection, he has made the President’s List in addition to landing on the SEC Honor Roll and the Dean’s List three times each.

A two-year captain, Milroe has helped Alabama earn two College Football Playoff appearances, including a berth in the 2021 national title game and a 2023 semifinal. The Tide has secured two SEC titles with Milroe on the roster and have played in three consecutive New Year’s Six games – winning the 2021 Cotton Bowl, the 2022 Sugar Bowl and appearing in the 2024 Rose Bowl. During his first three seasons in Tuscaloosa, the Tide has never finished ranked lower than No. 5. Alabama currently ranks No. 15 in the polls with a 5-2 record.

A Second Team All-SEC selection in 2023, Milroe was a finalist for the Manning Award, which goes to the nation’s top QB; a finalist for the Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award, given to the top offensive player in Division I football with ties to the state of Texas; and a member of the 2023 Davey O’Brien Quarterback Class, which encompasses the top quarterbacks in country.

Thus far in his career, Milroe has accounted for 66 total touchdowns, throwing for 4,894 yards and 42 scores while rushing for 1,181 yards and 24 touchdowns on the ground. He has completed 68.4 percent of his passes in 2024, which ranks second in the SEC, and his 9.73 yards per pass attempt currently ranks second in the conference and sixth in the nation. He ranks ninth in the nation for passing efficiency with a 167.5 rating this season, and he ranks fifth for both points responsible for with 146 and 20.9 points per game. Last season, he ranked second in the conference and fifth nationally with a passer efficiency rating of 172.2.

Milroe regularly volunteers in the Tuscaloosa community, visiting schools and participating at fan events. He hosted a youth football camp in his hometown, and he represented Alabama at the joint meeting of the SEC Student-Athlete Leadership Council and the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee.
(All stats as of Oct. 23, 2024)

Jackson Woodard, LB – UNLV
3.77 GPA – Kinesiology
Head Coach: Barry Odom | Athletics Director: Erick Harper
Faculty Athletics Representative: Dr. Tony Terrell
Recipient of General Robert R. Neyland Scholar-Athlete Award, Endowed by the Haslam Family Foundation

Building on an intense desire to win at everything, Jackson Woodard has excelled at the highest levels in the classroom while playing a significant role in the transformation of the UNLV football program the past two seasons. The Little Rock, Arkansas, native now becomes the first NFF National Scholar-Athlete in UNLV history.

A 2023 CSC First Team Academic All-American, the first in UNLV history, Woodard graduated in May after maintaining a 3.77 GPA in kinesiology. He is continuing his education by pursuing a graduate certificate. An Academic All-Mountain West pick in 2023, Woodward also made the SEC Academic Honor Roll while playing at Arkansas.

A two-year team captain at UNLV after transferring from Arkansas, Woodard helped lead the Rebels to their first winning season in more than a decade in 2023 with a 9-5 record and a 6-1 start in 2024, which ranks them first in the Mountain West. The 2023 season also marked only the third winning season for the Rebels since 1994 and the most win since 1984. The 2023 season included a share of the Mountain West Conference title and an appearance in the Guaranteed Rate Bowl, UNLV’s first postseason bowl game since 2013. At Arkansas for three seasons, Woodard was part of the Razorback teams that won the 2022 Outback (with a final No. 21 ranking) and the 2022 Liberty bowls.

A walk-on for the Razorbacks in 2020, Woodard was awarded a scholarship at Arkansas in 2022 before transferring to UNLV in 2023. Woodard earned 2023 First Team All-Mountain West honors his first year in the conference, and he was named the 2023 Mountain West Defensive Newcomer of the Year. Woodard already tied a program record in being named MW Defensive Player of the Week three times through just seven games played this fall.

Woodard is currently tied for second in the nation with four interceptions and ranks second in the country with 12 passes defended. During his career to-date, Woodard has collected 195 tackles, 17.5 tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks, one fumble recovery, five interceptions and 18 passes defended.  Woodard currently leads UNLV in tackles with 63, and he led the Rebels in 2023 with 117 tackles, which ranked second in the Mountain West, and he also led the team with nine tackles for loss, which placed him tied for ninth in the conference last season. During his three seasons in Fayetteville, Woodard appeared in 28 games overall, making 16 total tackles while playing defense and special teams.

Passionate about giving back to the community, Woodard participated in UNLV’s Build-a-Bed Project, which provides beds for kids in Clark County who are sleeping on the floor or a couch. He was active in the community service activities surrounding the Super Bowl in Las Vegas last season, spending time with underprivileged youths at local schools in the area, and he raised funds for charities by hosting a youth football in camp in his hometown.

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