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Carter Named 2025 William V. Campbell Trophy® Semifinalist
9/29/2025 3:13:00 PM | Football
Joseph Carter, Liberty's defensive leader the last two seasons, has been named a semifinalist for the 2025 William V. Campbell Trophy® award.
The William V. Campbell Trophy® award, which is presented by the National Football Foundation (NFF), is considered the premier scholar-athlete award in the sport of college football.
Carter was one of 179 semifinalists for this year's honor. This list includes candidates from all NCAA divisions and the NAIA, boasts an impressive 3.60 average GPA, with more than half of the semifinalists (92) having already earned their bachelor's degrees.
Carter is among the group of graduates as he completed his undergraduate degree in Sport Management in May 2025. He is currently pursuing a master's degree in Sport Management.
Carter had a banner year in 2024, leading the Flames with a career-high 88 tackles. He finished the season with 30 more tackles than any other player on Liberty's roster.
The native of Jacksonville, Fla., was the second-highest graded linebacker in Conference USA in 2024 (77.1 grade by PFF.com). He also ranked third on Liberty's roster with 697 total snaps played (564 – defense; 133 - special teams).
Following the season, Carter was named to the Conference USA second-team listing. He also earned Linebacker of the Year accolades in the Commonwealth of Virginia from the Touchdown Club of Richmond.
Through the first five games of the 2025 season, Carter ranks second on Liberty's roster with 32 tackles (14 solo, 18 assisted), including 2.0 tackles for a loss and a forced fumble.
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.
The NFF will announce 12-16 finalists on Oct. 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 Dec. 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.
2025 Campbell Trophy® Semifinalists Notes
2025 Campbell Trophy® Semifinalists by Division and Position
The William V. Campbell Trophy® award, which is presented by the National Football Foundation (NFF), is considered the premier scholar-athlete award in the sport of college football.
Carter was one of 179 semifinalists for this year's honor. This list includes candidates from all NCAA divisions and the NAIA, boasts an impressive 3.60 average GPA, with more than half of the semifinalists (92) having already earned their bachelor's degrees.
Carter is among the group of graduates as he completed his undergraduate degree in Sport Management in May 2025. He is currently pursuing a master's degree in Sport Management.
Carter had a banner year in 2024, leading the Flames with a career-high 88 tackles. He finished the season with 30 more tackles than any other player on Liberty's roster.
The native of Jacksonville, Fla., was the second-highest graded linebacker in Conference USA in 2024 (77.1 grade by PFF.com). He also ranked third on Liberty's roster with 697 total snaps played (564 – defense; 133 - special teams).
Following the season, Carter was named to the Conference USA second-team listing. He also earned Linebacker of the Year accolades in the Commonwealth of Virginia from the Touchdown Club of Richmond.
Through the first five games of the 2025 season, Carter ranks second on Liberty's roster with 32 tackles (14 solo, 18 assisted), including 2.0 tackles for a loss and a forced fumble.
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.
The NFF will announce 12-16 finalists on Oct. 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 Dec. 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.
2025 Campbell Trophy® Semifinalists Notes
- 36th year of the William V. Campbell Trophy®
- 67th year of the NFF National Scholar-Athlete Awards Presented by Fidelity Investments
- 179 Semifinalists
- 3.60 Average GPA
- 92 Nominees who have already earned their bachelor's degrees (including one player with three bachelor's degrees)
- Five Nominees who have earned a master's degree (including one player with two master's degrees)
- Five Nominees with a perfect 4.0 GPA
- 56 Nominees with a 3.8 GPA or better
- 74 Nominees with a 3.7 GPA or better
- 14 Academic All-America selections
- 113 Captains
- 20 All-Americans
- 95 All-Conference picks
2025 Campbell Trophy® Semifinalists by Division and Position
- 79 Nominees from the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS)
- 45 Nominees from the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision (FCS)
- 15 Nominees from NCAA Division II
- 33 Nominees from NCAA Division III
- Seven Nominees from the NAIA
- 89 Offensive Players
- 76 Defensive Players
- 14 Special Teams Players
Players Mentioned
LB
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