Tim Tebow Named a Semifinalist for the 2009 William V. Campbell Trophy
Thursday, October 1, 2009 | Football
Gator senior quarterback Tim Tebow (Jacksonville, Fla.) was named a semifinalist for the 2009 William V. Campbell Trophy, formerly known as the Draddy Trophy, Thursday by the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame.
"On the heels of our recent announcement to rename our top scholar-athlete award in honor of Bill Campbell, we are incredibly proud to select the next winner from this remarkable group of semifinalists," said NFF Chairman Archie Manning. "As one of the nation's most influential business leaders, Bill Campbell is a powerful example of football's unique ability to build leadership qualities in our young people. The semifinalists for the Campbell Trophy have already built track records that place them squarely in his footsteps."
The trophy, commonly referred to as the “Academic Heisman,” is awarded annually to a senior or graduate student in their final year of eligibility, requires a grade point average of at least 3.2, outstanding football ability and strong leadership and citizenship from the recipient.
Tebow, who boasts a 3.66 GPA majoring in Family, Youth & Community Sciences at UF, was the first Florida player to be named a first-team Academic All-American selection in 2007 in over a decade. A three-time SEC Academic Honor Roll selection, Tebow was named the 2008 SEC Scholar-Athlete of the year, as well as the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-American of the Year last year, while picking up ESPN The Magazine Academic All-American honors in both 2007 & 2008.
One of only four schools to have multiple winners of the Draddy Trophy, Gator greats Brad Culpepper (DT) and Danny Wuerrfel (QB) were both Draddy Trophy recipients in 1991 and 1996, respectively, while Mike Degory (C) and James Smith (LS) were semifinalists in 2005 and 2008. Quarterback Chris Leak was named a finalist for the Trophy in 2006. Wuerrfel is the only winner of both the Heisman Trophy and the Draddy Trophy.
"The Campbell Trophy semifinalists represent everything great about college football, having achieved excellence in all aspect of their lives," said NFF President & CEO Steven J. Hatchell. "It is the NFF's duty to promote their accomplishments while encouraging future generations of gridiron standouts to aim high on and off the football field."
On the football field, the 2007 Heisman Trophy winner became the first Gator in the 2009 football season to rush for over 100 yards, tallying 123 yards on 16 carries and two touchdowns, leading Florida to a 31-0 first quarter lead over Kentucky, a game the Orange and Blue won 41-7, to improve to 4-0 (2-0 SEC) this season.
Off the field, Tebow has spent over 700 hours of community service and appearances this year, including making phone calls to sick children and going on hospital visits to pediatric wings, among other service activities. Honored with UF's Office of Student Life's Goodwill Gator Community Service Award in 2008, Tebow cites his priorities in this order: faith, family, academics and then football.
The NFF Awards Committee will select and announce up to 15 finalists on Oct. 29. Each finalist will be recognized as part of the 2009 NFF National Scholar- Athlete Class, receiving an $18,000 post-graduate scholarship. The Campbell Trophy winner, who will have his scholarship increased to $25,000, will be announced live at the NFF's Annual Awards Dinner on December 8 at the prestigious Waldorf-Astoria in New York City. A total distribution of $277,000 in scholarships will be awarded that evening.
2009 William V. Campbell Semifinalists
School – Nominee
Alabama - Colin Peek
Arizona State - Mike Nixon
Baylor - Joe Pawelek
Bowling Green State - Craig Rutherford
Brigham Young - Matt Bauman
Central Michigan - Dan LeFevour
Cincinnati - Jeff Linkenbach
Colorado - Jake Behrens
Colorado State - Klint Kubiak
Connecticut - Bradley Kanuch
Eastern Michigan - Andrew Schmitt
Florida - Tim Tebow
Florida International - Paul McCall
Fresno State - Moses Harris
Illinois - Jon Asamoah
Indiana - Jammie Kirlew
Kansas - Todd Reesing
Kansas State - Jeron Mastrud
Kentucky - Ross Bogue
Louisiana-Lafayette - Scott Hayes
Louisville - Joseph Tronzo
LSU - Lyle Hitt
Memphis - Matt Reagan
Miami (Fla.) - Matt Pipho
Michigan - Zoltan Mesko
Middle Tennessee State - Phillip Tanner
Minnesota - Eric Decker
Missouri - Kurtis Gregory
Navy - Ross Pospisil
Nebraska - Wes Cammack
Northern Illinois - Brandon Bice
Northwestern - Andrew Brewer
Notre Dame - Mike Anello
Ohio State - Jim Cordle
Oklahoma - Auston English
Oregon State - Gregg Peat
Penn State - Josh Hull
Rutgers - Devin McCourty
San Diego State - Matthew Kawulok
SMU - Mitch Enright
Southern California - Jeff Byers
Syracuse - Andrew Robinson
Tennessee - Cody Sullins
Texas - Colt McCoy
UCLA - Logan Paulsen
UNLV - Ryan Wolfe
Utah - Zane Beadles
Utah State - Nnamdi Gwacham
Wake Forest - Ben Wooster
Washington State - Kenny Alfred
West Virginia - Reed Williams
Western Michigan - Tim Hiller
Wisconsin - Mickey Turner
Wyoming - Weston Johnson
-UF-
