Sokpo Named as Semifinalist for 2024 William V. Campbell Trophy
IRVING, TEXAS --- The National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame (NFF) proudly announced today a record number of 203 semifinalists for the 2024 William V. Campbell Trophy®, college football's premier scholar-athlete award. The list includes Moravian University senior defensive lineman Prince Sokpo.
IRVING, TEXAS --- The National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame (NFF) proudly announced today a record number of 203 semifinalists for the 2024 William V. Campbell Trophy®, college football's premier scholar-athlete award. The new highwater mark eclipses the 201 nominees in 2023. The impressive list of candidates, from all NCAA divisions and the NAIA, boasts an impressive 3.63 average GPA, with more than half of the semifinalists having already earned their bachelor's degrees. The list includes Moravian University senior defensive lineman Prince Sokpo.
Celebrating its 35th 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.
2024 WILLIAM V. CAMPBELL TROPHY® SEMIFINALISTS NOTES
- 35th year of the William V. Campbell Trophy®
- 66th year of the NFF National Scholar-Athlete Awards Presented by Fidelity Investments
- 203 Semifinalists
- 3.63 Average GPA
- 124 Nominees who have already earned their bachelor's degrees
- 7 Nominees who have earned a master's degree
- 3 Nominees with a perfect 4.0 GPA
- 48 Nominees with a 3.8 GPA or better
- 91 Nominees with a 3.7 GPA or better
- 26 Academic All-America selections
- 128 Captains
- 31 All-Americans
- 129 All-Conference picks
"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. 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.
Nominated by their schools, which are limited to one nominee each, candidates for the awards must be a senior who will complete his final year of eligibility in the 2024 season or graduate student or graduate transfer who has already earned a degree and participating in the 2024 season; 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.
"We are incredibly proud of this year's semifinalists, who embody the true spirit of the Campbell Trophy®," said NFF President & CEO Steve Hatchell. "As we celebrate the 35th anniversary of this prestigious award, their achievements remind us of the profound impact scholar-athletes have, not just on their teams, but on the communities they serve and the careers they pursue after football. The NFF Awards Committee will have an incredibly difficult task in selecting the finalists from this outstanding group of candidates."
Launched in 1959, the NFF National Scholar-Athlete Awards Presented by Fidelity Investments celebrate their 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, 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 nine 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.
Known as "The Coach of Silicon Valley," Campbell became one of our country's most influential business leaders, playing critical roles in the success of Apple, Google, Intuit and countless other high-tech companies. The captain of the 1961 Columbia Ivy League championship team, he found his true calling after an unlikely career change at age 39 from 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.
Later in life, Campbell was driven by a heartfelt desire to give back, and he quietly gave away tens of millions of dollars to multiple charities while also finding an hour and half each autumn weekday to coach an eighth-grade boys and girls flag-football team near his home in Palo Alto, California. Campbell passed away April 18, 2016, at the age of 75.
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®. Once the finalists are selected, the NFF will present each of their faculty athletics representatives with a plaque and Fidelity will donate $5,000 for the academic support services at each school. The salutes have recognized 184 FARs since the program's inception, and Fidelity has made a total of $920,000 in donations.
2024 Campbell Trophy® Semifinalists by Division and Position
- 95 Nominees from the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS)
- 41 Nominees from the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision (FCS)
- 18 Nominees from NCAA Division II
- 44 Nominees from NCAA Division III
- 5 Nominees from the NAIA
- 110 Offensive Players
- 78 Defensive Players
- 15 Special Teams Players
"Our program is honored that Prince has been selected as a Campbell Trophy Semifinalist," stated Head Football Coach Jeff Long. "His contributions to our university in the classroom, in the campus community and as a teammate are second to none. I am so proud of Prince and look forward to watching his future successes on and off the field."
Sokpo is in his senior season with 23 career tackles including seven solo stops, one tackle for loss and one pass break-up. He has been a member of the Centennial Conference Fall Academic Honor Roll in 2022 and the Landmark Conference Fall Academic Honor Roll in 2023. Sokpo is majoring in neuroscience at Moravian with a minor in biochemistry, and he has a 3.53 GPA while making the Moravian Dean's Honors List five times.
The 203 semifinalists include 44 NCAA Division III student-athletes, and Sokpo is one of two Landmark Conference players on the list.
To view the full NFF release and list of 203 semifinalists visit https://footballfoundation.org/news/2024/9/25/football-record-breaking-number-of-campbell-trophy-semifinalists-announced.aspx
Part of release courtesy of the National Football Foundation.
