BATON ROUGE – LSU senior running back Josh Williams has been selected as a semifinalist for the 2024 William V. Campbell Trophy, the National Football Foundation & College Football Hall of Fame announced on Wednesday.
It’s the second consecutive year Williams – now in his sixth season with the Tigers – has been named a semifinalist for the Campbell Trophy.
The William V. Campbell Trophy is presented annually to college football’s premier student-athlete. A record 203 players were nominated for this year’s award. Former Tiger Rudy Niswanger won the award in 2005.
In addition to Niswanger, LSU has had seven players earn the National Football Foundation Scholar-Athlete Award. The list includes Robert Dugas, 1978; James Britt, 1982; Nacho Albergamo,1987; Sol Graves, 1990; Chad Kessler, 1997; Bradie James, 2002; and Rodney Reed, 2003.
Now in its 35th year, the Campbell Trophy recognizes an individual as the absolute best football scholar-athlete for his combined academic success, football performance and exemplary leadership.
Williams earned his undergraduate degree from LSU in marketing, graduating with a 3.4 grade point average. He followed that with a Master’s in business administration in December of 2023. Williams has been named to the SEC Academic Honor Roll times and is also a member of the NFF Hampshire Honor Society as well as LSU’s Omicron Delta Kappa Honor Society.
As LSU’s starting running back, Williams has helped the Tigers to a 3-1 mark and a No. 13 national ranking thus far in 2024. He currently leads the Tigers in rushing with 134 yards and a pair of TDs. He scored the game-winning touchdown in LSU’s comeback win over South Carolina two weeks ago.
Prior to the season, Williams was awarded the No. 18 jersey, which is worn by a player who demonstrates all of the traits of an all-around outstanding LSU football player.
Upon receiving the No. 18 jersey, Williams said, “I’ve had a long journey, coming here as a walk-on in 2019 and now in my sixth season. Being able to represent LSU with the number 18 jersey means a lot to me. Seeing the number 18s that I have played with over the years and seeing what they meant to the team and what they mean to LSU, I just want to thank coach Kelly and the coaching staff for giving me the opportunity to wear this special number.”
Originally a walk-on, Williams earned a scholarship prior to the 2020 season. He was a scout team member of LSU’s national championship team in 2019 and has been a steady contributor since. In 51 career games, Williams has rushed for 1,146 yards and scored 13 rushing touchdowns.
Off the field, Williams is a routine participant in community service endeavors. He’s a legacy member of Jack and Jill of America, an organization built on cultural awareness, educational development and volunteer service projects.
“These 203 semifinalists reflect not only exceptional academic and athletic talent but also the deep-rooted leadership that shows a commitment to excellence in all aspects of their lives, which is learned on the gridiron,” said NFF Chairman Archie Manning, whose sons Peyton (Campbell Trophy® winner) and Eli were named NFF National Scholar-Athletes in 1997 and 2003, respectively. “The Campbell Trophy® continues to represent the pinnacle of what it means to be a scholar-athlete, and this year’s candidates exemplify how football builds future leaders who will undoubtedly shape tomorrow’s world.”
The NFF will announce 12-14 finalists on Oct. 23, and each of them will receive an $18,000 postgraduate scholarship as a member of the 2024 NFF National Scholar-Athlete Class Presented by Fidelity Investments. 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.
Nominated by their schools, which are limited to one nominee each, candidates for the awards 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. The class is selected each year by the NFF Awards Committee, which is comprised of a nationally recognized group of media, College Football Hall of Famers and athletics administrators.
Launched in 1959, the NFF National Scholar-Athlete Awards Presented by Fidelity Investments celebrate their 65th year in 2023. 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 922 outstanding individuals since the program’s inception. This year’s postgraduate scholarships will push the program’s all-time distribution to more than $12.9 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 eight 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 luncheon at the storied venue.
**LSU Press Release
