Skinner Named a Semifinalist for the 2014 Campbell Trophy
9/25/2014 12:00:00 AM | Football
IRVING, TX – University at Buffalo senior linebacker Lee Skinner was named a semifinalist for the 2014 William V. Campbell Trophy, presented by Fidelity Investments, the National Football Foundation announced on Thursday.
The award recognizes an individual as the absolute best football scholar-athlete in the nation, and up to 16 of the candidates will be named recipients of a prestigious NFF National Scholar-Athlete Award, also presented by Fidelity Investments.
Skinner boasts a 3.3 grade point average as a business administration major. He is a team captain and leads the Bulls in tackles with 27 on the season. The Dayton, OH native has been a staple of the Bulls linebacking corps, starting all 41 games of his career. He has 275 tackles, including 19 for loss and 6.5 sacks over his career.
"These 167 impressive candidates truly represent the scholar-athlete ideal," said NFF Chairman Archie Manning whose sons Peyton (Campbell Trophy winner) and Eli were named NFF National Scholar-Athletes in 1997 and 2003, respectively. "It is important for us to showcase their success on the football field, in the classroom and in the community. This year's semifinalists further illustrate the power of our great sport in developing the next generation of influential leaders."
The 167 semifinalists promote an average GPA of 3.65. Skinner was one of 62 FBS players and seven from the Mid-American Conference selected.
Nominated by each school, candidates must be a senior or graduate student in their final year of eligibility, have a grade point average 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 NFF Awards Committee will select up to 16 recipients, and the results will be announced via a national press release on Thursday, Oct. 30. Each recipient will receive an $18,000 postgraduate scholarship, and they will vie as finalists for the 2014 William V. Campbell Trophy. Each member of the 2014 NFF National Scholar-Athlete Class will also travel to New York City to be honored Dec. 9 during the 57th NFF Annual Awards Dinner at the Waldorf Astoria where their accomplishments will be highlighted in front of one of the most powerful audiences in all of sports. One member of the class will also be announced live at the event as the winner of the Campbell Trophy.
Click here for the full list of semifinalists.
