IRVING, Texas – The University of South Alabama's Brian Ankerson has been named a semifinalist for the 2020 William V. Campbell Trophy® Presented by Mazda, it was announced by the National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame (NFF) on Thursday.
A record number of 199 student-athletes were nominated by their schools, with each institution limited to one nominee. Candidates for the award must be a senior or graduate student in their final year of playing eligibility, have a cumulative 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 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 senior from Theodore, Ala., has been nominated for both the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team® and the Wuerffel Trophy this fall as well.
Through the Jaguars' first three games this season, Ankerson leads the team in both overall and assignment grades, and he is also tied for second among the team's offensive linemen with nine knockdown blocks. The center has recorded the South's highest overall and assignment marks each of the last two seasons as well, including earning career-best grades of 82 and 89 percent, respectively, a year ago. Over the last two-plus seasons he has been credited with 83 pancake blocks, with a career-high 52 of those coming in 2019.
A first-team College Sports Information Directors of America academic all-district selection last fall, Ankerson has made the Sun Belt Conference Commissioner's List each of the last three years. After earning his degree in criminal justice — with a minor in sociology — in May 2019 he has posted a 4.0 grade-point average while completing 24 hours toward his master's degree in public administration.
Ankerson's volunteer activities include assisting with the athletic department's Operation Christmas Child program, taking part in multiple reading day and career fairs at local elementary schools, and helping at the Relay For Life and at Camp Rap-A-Hope during his time with the Jag football program.
Celebrating its 31st year, the William V. 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. The NFF will announce 12-to-14 finalists in November, and each of them will receive an $18,000 postgraduate scholarship as a member of the 2020 NFF National Scholar-Athlete Class Presented by Fidelity Investments. Later this year, one member of the class will be declared as the winner of the 31st Campbell Trophy® Presented by Mazda, having his postgraduate scholarship increased to $25,000 and receiving his own 25-pound-bronze version of the iconic statue that has been prominently displayed inside its official home at the New York Athletic Club since 2013.
For more information about South Alabama athletics, check back with www.usajaguars.com, and follow the Jaguars at www.twitter.com/USAJaguarSports. Season tickets for all Jaguar athletic events can be purchased by calling (251) 461-1USA (1872).
Join the South Circle, the unrestricted giving option of the University of South Alabama Athletics. Contributions to South Circle directly support all 17 sports in addition to various support programming. For more information on how you can join visit: http://jaguarathleticfund.com/give
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