IRVING, Texas (theACC.com) – The National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame (NFF) proudly announced today that 11 student-athletes from the Atlantic Coast Conference highlight the list of 177 semifinalists for the 2025 William V. Campbell Trophy®, college football’s premier scholar-athlete award. The impressive list of candidates, from all NCAA divisions and the NAIA, boasts an impressive 3.60 average GPA, with more than half of the semifinalists having already earned their bachelor’s degrees.
The ACC’s 11 semifinalists are the second-most among all FBS conferences.
Celebrating its 36th 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.
ACC Players Named as Semifinalists for the 2025 Campbell Trophy
Name, School, Class, Position
Cade Klubnik, Clemson, Senior, Quarterback
Bruno Fina, Duke, Graduate Student, Offensive Line
Luke Petitbon, Florida State, Redshirt Senior, Offensive Line
Joe Fusile, Georgia Tech, Redshirt Senior, Offensive Line
Will Hardy, North Carolina, Senior, Defensive Back
Anthony Carter Jr., NC State, Graduate Student, Offensive Line
Matt Hibner, SMU, Graduate Student, Tight End
Sam Roush, Stanford, Senior, Tight End
Derek McDonald, Syracuse, Redshirt Senior, Linebacker
Will Bettridge, Virginia, Senior, Kicker
Nick Andersen, Wake Forest, Senior, Linebacker
An ACC player has won the Campbell Trophy in three of the last 11 seasons. Previous Campbell Trophy winners from the current 18-football playing ACC schools are Clemson's Christian Wilkins in 2018, Virginia’s Micah Kiser in 2017, Duke’s David Helton in 2014, California’s Alex Mack in 2008, Miami’s Joaquin Gonzalez in 2001 and Virginia’s Thomas Burns in 1993.
The NFF will announce 12-16 finalists on October 22, and each of them will receive an $18,000 postgraduate scholarship as a member of the 2025 NFF National Scholar-Athlete Class Presented by Fidelity Investments. The finalists will travel to the Bellagio Resort & Casino in Las Vegas for the 67th NFF Annual Awards Dinner Presented by Las Vegas on December 9, 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 36th Campbell Trophy® and have his postgraduate scholarship increased to $25,000.
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.