Blaine Hawkins - Headshot courtesy of Central Athletics

Central College quarterback Blaine Hawkins is among 199 semifinalists for the William V. Campbell Trophy presented by Mazda as the nation’s top football scholar-athlete. The award is presented by the National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame. Hawkins is among 40 semifinalists from NCAA Division III institutions and the only one representing an American Rivers Conference school. He’s among 110 of the semifinalists who were previously an all-conference selection and 94 who have served as a team captain.

The NFF will announce 12-14 finalists in November with each receiving an $18,000 postgraduate scholarship. The winner will be announced later this year, having his postgraduate scholarship increased to $25,000 and receiving his own 25-pound bronze version of the award statue.

Nominees must be a senior or graduate student with a minimum 3.20 cumulative grade point average, have outstanding football ability and demonstrate strong leadership and citizenship. Hawkins is an economics major with a 3.57 cumulative grade point average. Hawkins follows Central’s most recent Campbell Trophy semifinalists, kicker Jon Alberts (2019), running back Pat Gray (2018) and wide receiver Sam Markham (2017).