IRVING, Texas – HCU senior linebacker Brennan Young has been selected as one of 156 semifinalists for the William V. Campbell Trophy presented by the National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame (NFF). Houston Christian University (HCU), formerly Houston Baptist University (HBU), underwent a name change in September 2022.
 
The Campbell Trophy is college football's premier scholar-athlete award, recognizing an individual as the best in the nation for his combined academic success, football performance and exemplary leadership.
 
"These 156 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. "During the past seven decades, the NFF National Scholar-Athlete Awards have recognized 891 college football players who excelled as the best our great sport has to offer. This year's semifinalists build on the tradition, further illustrating the power of football in developing the next generation of influential leaders."
 
Young is currently tied for 27^th in the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) with 9.0 tackles per game and 27 total on the season. He has recorded double-digit tackles each of the last two games, with 10 against Lindenwood and 11 at Texas State, and now has 347 tackles for his career.
 
The Conroe, Texas, native earned his bachelor's degree in marketing with a 3.72 GPA in December of 2021. Young is currently pursuing a Master of Business Administration degree. He is a two-time member of the FCS Athletic Directors Association Academic All-Star Team and made the Southland Conference All-Academic Team.
 
The NFF will announce 12-14 finalists on Oct. 26, each of which will receive an $18,000 postgraduate scholarship as a member of the 2022 NFF National Scholar-Athlete Class Presented by Fidelity Investments. The finalists will travel to Bellagio Resort & Casino in Las Vegas for the 64^th NFF Annual Awards Dinner on Dec. 6.