Oklahoma State University Athletics
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Lundblade A Finalist for William V. Campbell Trophy
November 08, 2017 | Cowboy Football
STILLWATER – Oklahoma State center Brad Lundblade is one of 13 national finalists for the 2017 William V. Campbell Trophy, which recognizes an individual as "the absolute best football scholar-athlete in the nation."
The National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame announced the finalists, who were selected from a nationwide pool of 181 semifinalists from among all NCAA divisions and the NAIA. Each finalist will each receive an $18,000 postgraduate scholarship as a member of the NFF National Scholar-Athlete Class, presented by Fidelity Investments.
Lundblade is the fifth player in OSU history to receive the NFF National Scholar-Athlete distinction, joining Billy Bajema (2004), Kyle Eaton (2002), Douglas Freeman (1982) and Rex Russell (1962).
The honor marks the latest of a long list for Lundblade, whose recognitions include CoSIDA Academic First Team All-America honors, two-time CoSIDA Academic All-District First Team honors, two-time First Team Academic All-Big 12 team, six-time OSU President's Honor Roll selection, three-time OSU Dean's Honor Roll pick, three-time OSU Academic Award recipient and the OSU Vernon Grant Award for outstanding leadership, spirit and enthusiasm, among others.
The senior out of Argyle, Texas is a proven leader on the field, in the classroom and in the community.
Lundblade, who walked on before earning a scholarship prior to the 2015 season, is a four-year starter at center and an anchor on the offensive line for the nation's No. 2 offense at 579.4 yards per game. He serves on the NCAA Autonomy Governance Committee as one of only three student-athlete representatives from the Big 12, has been a speaker at Fellowship of Christian Athlete events, leads weekly Bible studies, serves as a guest speaker and visits local police officers as a member of Athletes in Action and volunteers with several events through OSU athletics.
The honor also marks the latest academic achievement for Oklahoma State football, who last year graduated 25 players while playing more who already had their degrees. Including that group, 269 players have graduated during Mike Gundy's tenure as head coach. The last two seasons of OSU football have produced 41 Academic All-Big 12 selections – including a program record 22 in 2015 – to rank as the second-highest total in the conference during that span. The program's 974 rate in 2015-16 also marked its best since APR was implemented in 2013.
Student-athletes in the NFF National Scholar-Athlete Class were nominated by their schools, which are limited to one nominee each. Candidates 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 181 semifinalists for were announced Sept. 27, and the class was selected by the NFF Awards Committee comprised of a nationally recognized media, College Football Hall of Famers and athletics administrators.
The finalists will travel to New York City for the 60th NFF Annual Awards Dinner on Dec. 5. The winner will be announced at the event and have his postgraduate scholarship increased to $25,000. The event will take place at the New York Hilton Midtown and will be live streamed on ESPN3 at 7:30 p.m. CT.
The recipient of the Campbell Trophy will also be honored at the NFF Board of Directors meeting and at a reception hosted by the New York Athletic Club on Wednesday, Dec. 6. He will then fly to Atlanta to be recognized during The Home Depot College Football Awards on ESPN at the College Football Hall of Fame on Dec. 7. Finally, he will return to Atlanta to be recognized on the field during the CFP National Championship on Jan. 8, 2018.
2017 William V. Campbell Trophy Finalists
The National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame announced the finalists, who were selected from a nationwide pool of 181 semifinalists from among all NCAA divisions and the NAIA. Each finalist will each receive an $18,000 postgraduate scholarship as a member of the NFF National Scholar-Athlete Class, presented by Fidelity Investments.
Lundblade is the fifth player in OSU history to receive the NFF National Scholar-Athlete distinction, joining Billy Bajema (2004), Kyle Eaton (2002), Douglas Freeman (1982) and Rex Russell (1962).
The honor marks the latest of a long list for Lundblade, whose recognitions include CoSIDA Academic First Team All-America honors, two-time CoSIDA Academic All-District First Team honors, two-time First Team Academic All-Big 12 team, six-time OSU President's Honor Roll selection, three-time OSU Dean's Honor Roll pick, three-time OSU Academic Award recipient and the OSU Vernon Grant Award for outstanding leadership, spirit and enthusiasm, among others.
The senior out of Argyle, Texas is a proven leader on the field, in the classroom and in the community.
Lundblade, who walked on before earning a scholarship prior to the 2015 season, is a four-year starter at center and an anchor on the offensive line for the nation's No. 2 offense at 579.4 yards per game. He serves on the NCAA Autonomy Governance Committee as one of only three student-athlete representatives from the Big 12, has been a speaker at Fellowship of Christian Athlete events, leads weekly Bible studies, serves as a guest speaker and visits local police officers as a member of Athletes in Action and volunteers with several events through OSU athletics.
The honor also marks the latest academic achievement for Oklahoma State football, who last year graduated 25 players while playing more who already had their degrees. Including that group, 269 players have graduated during Mike Gundy's tenure as head coach. The last two seasons of OSU football have produced 41 Academic All-Big 12 selections – including a program record 22 in 2015 – to rank as the second-highest total in the conference during that span. The program's 974 rate in 2015-16 also marked its best since APR was implemented in 2013.
Student-athletes in the NFF National Scholar-Athlete Class were nominated by their schools, which are limited to one nominee each. Candidates 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 181 semifinalists for were announced Sept. 27, and the class was selected by the NFF Awards Committee comprised of a nationally recognized media, College Football Hall of Famers and athletics administrators.
The finalists will travel to New York City for the 60th NFF Annual Awards Dinner on Dec. 5. The winner will be announced at the event and have his postgraduate scholarship increased to $25,000. The event will take place at the New York Hilton Midtown and will be live streamed on ESPN3 at 7:30 p.m. CT.
The recipient of the Campbell Trophy will also be honored at the NFF Board of Directors meeting and at a reception hosted by the New York Athletic Club on Wednesday, Dec. 6. He will then fly to Atlanta to be recognized during The Home Depot College Football Awards on ESPN at the College Football Hall of Fame on Dec. 7. Finally, he will return to Atlanta to be recognized on the field during the CFP National Championship on Jan. 8, 2018.
2017 William V. Campbell Trophy Finalists
| Scholar-Athlete | Position | School | GPA | Major |
| Sam Benger | RB | Carnegie Mellon (Pa.) | 3.67 | Business Administration |
| Braxton Berrios | WR | Miami (Fla.) | 3.96 | Finance & Entrepreneurship |
| Mason Hampton | C | Boise State | 3.97 | Accounting |
| Justin Jackson | RB | Northwestern | 3.23 | Economics |
| Micah Kiser | LB | Virginia | 3.42 | Foreign Affairs |
| Justin Lea | OL | Jacksonville State | 3.92 | Emergency MGMT & Geography |
| Brad Lundblade | C | Oklahoma State | 3.88 | Marketing |
| Marcus Martin | DE | Slippery Rock (Pa.) | 3.56 | Safety Management |
| Chandon Sullivan | S | Georgia State | 3.84 | Journalism |
| Blaise Taylor | CB | Arkansas State | 3.84 | Business Administration |
| Marlon Walls | S | Stephen F. Austin | 4.00 | Engineering Physics |
| Chris Weber | LB | Nebraska | 3.96 | Nutrition Science |
| Jake Wieneke | WR | South Dakota State | 3.63 | Physical/Teacher Education |
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