Johns Hopkins senior Luke Schuermann is one of 16 national finalists for the prestigious William V. Campbell Trophy, college football's premier scholar-athlete award that annually recognizes an individual as the absolute best in the nation for combined academic success, football performance, and exemplary leadership.
The award, considered college football's "academic Heisman," is presented by the National Football Foundation and the College Hall of Fame. The 16 finalists each receive an $18,000 postgraduate scholarship; the winner will be announced Tuesday night during the NFF's annual awards dinner in Las Vegas.
Image caption: Luke Schuermann
Schuermann, a defensive end, is the third finalist for the award from Johns Hopkins, joining John Arena (2013) and J.R. Woods (2022). He led the Blue Jays this season in sacks (9.5) and tackles for loss (15.5) and ranked third on the team in total tackles with 55. He was recently selected to the All-Centennial Conference first team and is one of 20 semifinalists for the Gagliardi Trophy, given annually to the nation's most outstanding NCAA Division III football player.
Schuermann already ranks as one of the most decorated players in Johns Hopkins history. He has twice been named a first team All-American by D3football.com, has twice earned AP All-America honors, and was named the Centennial Conference Defensive Player of the Year in 2021 and 2022. His freshman season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Hopkins matched a program record this season with 12 victories, winning its first 12 games before falling to Randolph-Macon, 39-36, in an NCAA Division III playoff quarterfinal this past weekend.
William V. Campbell Trophy finalists
- Cooper Beebe, OL – Kansas State (3.84 GPA - Social Studies Education)
- JD Bertrand, LB – Notre Dame (3.62 GPA - Marketing)
- DeWayne Carter, DT – Duke (3.47 GPA - Psychology)
- Loobert Denelus, DE – Benedict [SC] (3.96 GPA - Psychology)
- Jacob Dobbs, LB – Holy Cross (3.76 GPA - Economics & Religious Studies)
- Olumuyiwa Fashanu, OT – Penn State (3.45 GPA - Supply Chain & Info Systems)
- Zach Frazier, C – West Virginia (3.88 GPA - Sport Management)
- Owen Grover, LB – Wartburg [IA] (3.99 GPA - Biology)
- Leo Lowin, LB – Army West Point (3.92 GPA - Engineering Management)
- Ladd McConkey, WR – Georgia (3.85 GPA - Finance)
- Bo Nix, QB – Oregon (3.62 GPA - Communications)
- Davius Richard, QB – North Carolina Central (3.59 GPA - Business Administration)
- Luke Schuermann, DE – Johns Hopkins [MD] (3.61 GPA - Mechanical Engineering)
- Taulia Tagovailoa, QB – Maryland (3.61 GPA - Family Science)
- Liam Thompson, QB – Wabash [IN] (3.87 GPA - Rhetoric)
- Zak Zinter, OL – Michigan (3.53 GPA - Sport Management)
