Cooley Named Semifinalist for William V. Campbell Trophy

Liberty's Quinton Cooley has joined an elite group of college football players who have been honored for their efforts on the field and in the classroom.

Today, Cooley was named one of 203 semifinalists for the 2024 William V. Campbell Trophy®, college football's premier scholar-athlete award.

Celebrating its 35th 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.


Cooley becomes the first William V. Campbell Trophy® semifinalist in program history. He completed his undergraduate degree in interdisciplinary studies with a 3.51 GPA and is currently pursuing a master's degree in human services counseling.

The impressive list of candidates for this year's William V. Campbell Trophy®, from all NCAA divisions and the NAIA, boasts an impressive 3.63 average GPA, with more than half of the semifinalists already earning their bachelor's degrees.

This honor adds to a growing list of accolades for Cooley in 2024. He has already been named to the Maxwell Award Preseason Watch List (college football player of the year), Doak Walker Award Preseason Watch List (best running back in the country), Allstate Wuerffel Trophy Award Preseason Watch List (community service) and the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team Award Preseason Watch List (community service).

Cooley made the most of his first season at Liberty in 2023, earning CUSA Newcomer of the Year honors and leading the Flames in rushing and scoring.

The transfer from Wake Forest ranked No. 7 in the country with 1,401 rushing yards and No. 6 nationally with 16 rushing touchdowns. He also ranked No. 13 in rushing yards per carry (6.34), No. 14 in total touchdowns (16) and No. 15 in rushing yards per game (100.1).

Cooley, a native of Bailey, N.C., and the Flames finished the 2023 season with a school record 4,106 rushing yards and had the country's No. 1 rushing offense (293.3 yards per game).

Liberty also ranked No. 4 nationally in total offense (499.1 yards per game) and No. 9 in scoring offense (38.3 points per game).

Through four games in 2024, Cooley currently leads the Flames and Conference USA in rushing yards (371), rushing yards per game (92.8) and yards per carry (7.00). He ranks No. 17 in the country in yards per carry and No. 27 in both rushing yards and yards per game.

Cooley, who is tied for the lead in Conference USA with four rushing touchdowns, has surpassed 100 yards on the ground in three out of Liberty's four games this season.

The National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame will announce 12-14 finalists on Oct. 23, and each of them will receive an $18,000 postgraduate scholarship as a member of the 2024 NFF National Scholar-Athlete Class Presented by Fidelity Investments.

The finalists will travel to the Bellagio Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas for the 66th NFF Annual Awards Dinner Presented by Las Vegas on Dec. 10, 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 be declared the winner of the 35th Campbell Trophy® live during the event and have his postgraduate scholarship increased to $25,000.

2024 William V. Campbell Trophy® Semifinalists Notes:

35th year of the William V. Campbell Trophy®
66th year of the NFF National Scholar-Athlete Awards Presented by Fidelity Investments
203 Semifinalists
3.63 Average GPA
124 Nominees who have already earned their bachelor's degrees
7 Nominees who have earned a master's degree
3 Nominees with a perfect 4.0 GPA
48 Nominees with a 3.8 GPA or better
91 Nominees with a 3.7 GPA or better
26 Academic All-America selections
128 Captains
31 All-Americans
129 All-Conference picks

"These 203 semifinalists reflect not only exceptional academic and athletic talent but also the deep-rooted leadership that shows a commitment to excellence in all aspects of their lives, which is learned on the gridiron," said NFF Chairman Archie Manning, whose sons Peyton (Campbell Trophy® winner) and Eli were named NFF National Scholar-Athletes in 1997 and 2003, respectively. "The Campbell Trophy® continues to represent the pinnacle of what it means to be a scholar-athlete, and this year's candidates exemplify how football builds future leaders who will undoubtedly shape tomorrow's world."

Schedule

Cooley Named Semifinalist for William V. Campbell Trophy

Players Mentioned

Quinton Cooley

Cooley Named Semifinalist for William V. Campbell Trophy

Players Mentioned

Quinton Cooley

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