Ball State’s Richard Named A Semifinalist For The Campbell Trophy
MUNCIE – Selected as the best and brightest from the college gridiron, the National Football Foundation announced Ball State’s Jacob Richard as one of 135 semifinalist candidates for the 2015 NFF William V. Campbell Trophy award, presented by Fidelity Investments.
Richard, who earned his bachelor’s degree in May and is pursuing his master’s degree at Ball State, has started 28 consecutive games on the offensive line for the Cardinals. A three-time Academic All-Mid-American Conference recipient, Richard completed his undergraduate degree with a 3.642 grade-point average on Ball State’s 4.0 scale.
A two-time All-MAC performer, Richard was also named to the AFCA Good Works Team and the 2015 Rimington Trophy Watch List earlier this season. He helped bolster an offensive line in 2014, which ranked among the nation’s top 20 in fewest sacks and fewest tackles for loss allowed. This year, the Cardinals rank 15th nationally in rushing yards per game at 249.
Richard was one of just six MAC football players to earn a spot on the prestigious list.
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 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.
“The NFF would like to personally congratulate each of the nominees as well as their schools and coaches on their tremendous accomplishments,” NFF President & CEO Steve Hatchell. “We are extremely proud to highlight each semifinalist’s achievements, showcasing their ability to balance academics and athletics at the highest level. The NFF Awards Committee will have an incredibly difficult task in selecting the finalists from this outstanding group of candidates.”
The NFF will announce 15 finalists on Oct. 29, and each of those student-athletes will receive an $18,000 postgraduate scholarship as a member of the NFF National Scholar-Athlete Class, presented by Fidelity Investments. The finalists will travel to New York City for the 58th NFF Annual Awards Dinner on Dec. 8, where their accomplishments will be highlighted in front of one of the most powerful audiences in all of sports. At the event, one member of the class will be declared in dramatic fashion the winner of the 26th William V. Campbell Trophy and have his postgraduate scholarship increased to $25,000.
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