2023-10-25 20:04:12
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – Zach Frazier is up for the 2023 William V. Campbell Trophy, considered among the most prestigious awards given to a college football player.
Presented by the National Football Foundation (NFF) and the College Football Hall of Fame, the William V. Campbell Trophy is awarded to college football’s premier scholar-athlete in combined academic success, football performance and exemplary leadership.
As one of 16 finalists from a record pool of 201 semifinalists, Frazier will receive an $18,000 post-graduate scholarship and might be in line for a $25,000 post-graduate scholarship if he is chosen the winner. All 16 finalists will travel to the ARIA Resort &Casino in Las Vegas for the 65th annual NFF Awards Dinner on Tuesday, Dec. 5.
This is the 34th year the Campbell Trophy has been presented.
“We are extremely proud to announce the finalists for this year’s Campbell Trophy,” NFF Chairman Archie Manning said. “These young men have an unrelenting commitment to excellence in all aspects of their lives, and they represent all that is right in college football.”
Candidates for the Campbell Trophy must be either a senior player who will complete his final year of eligibility during the 2023 season or be a graduated player who has been enrolled in school at least three years, must have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.2 on a 4.0 scale; must have outstanding football ability as a starter or significant contributor; and must have exhibited exemplary leadership on the field, in the classroom and within the community.
Frazier certainly satisfies that criteria.
On pace to graduate summa cum laude in December in sport management, Frazier currently boasts a 3.88 GPA and has been a two-time First Team Academic All-Big 12 choice. He has been named to the Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll and WVU’s Garrett Ford Academic Honor Roll multiple times and has made the President’s List with a 4.0 GPA.
On the field, Frazier is a three-year captain recognized as a Second Team All-American by the Walter Camp Foundation and the American Football Coaches Association. He has received All-Big 12 accolades three times and was West Virginia’s nominee for Big 12 Athlete of the Year for 2022.
He was named Freshman All-American by ESPN and 247Sports in 2020 when he became the first WVU true freshman to start on the offensive line since 1980.
Frazier has been recognized as WVU’s Offensive Lineman of the Week three times by the coaching staff through six games this year and has only allowed four sacks over the last two years, including a 12-game stretch without allowing one. This year’s team is averaging 191.4 yards per game rushing, good for fifth in the Big 12.
Within the community, Frazier’s volunteer work includes the Polar Plunge for Special Olympics, WVU’s Big Brother program, WVU Education Day, Fairmont Senior High Kids Camp and Black History Month Community Fun Day.
He has visited WVU Children’s Hospital numerous times and has participated in local school visits and volunteered at high school football camps.
Frazier and his wife, the former Stephanie Vincent, were married last May.
He becomes West Virginia’s eighth NFF National Scholar-Athlete.
Other finalists this year include Kansas State offensive lineman Cooper Bebe, Notre Dame linebacker JD Bertrand, Duke defensive tackle DeWayne Carter, Benedict defensive end Loobert Denelus, Holy Cross linebacker Jacob Dobbs, Penn State offensive tackle Olu Fashanu, Wartburg linebacker Owen Grover, Army linebacker Leo Lowin, Georgia wide receiver Ladd McConkey, Oregon quarterback Bo Nix, North Carolina Central quarterback Davius Richard, Johns Hopkins defensive end Luke Schuermann, Maryland quarterback Taulia Tagovailoa, Wabash quarterback Liam Thompson and Michigan offensive lineman Zak Zinter.
“As strong leaders in the vein of the trophy’s namesake, Bill Campbell, they all serve as living examples that the ‘future for football’ is bright. We are excited to honor their hard work and outstanding leadership with postgraduate scholarships,” Manning said.
Frazier and his Mountaineer teammates will continue Big 12 play this Saturday at UCF. The game will kick off at noon and will be televised nationally on FS1.
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