BETHLEHEM, Pa. (October 2, 2020) – Four Patriot League football student-athletes were selected as semifinalists for the 2020 William V. Campbell Trophy by the National Football Foundation.
Bucknell senior linebacker Rick Mottram, Colgate senior quarterback Grant Breneman, Holy Cross senior quarterback Connor Degenhardt and Lehigh senior linebacker Pete Haffner were among the record-breaking 199 semifinalists for the Campbell Trophy, awarded annually to college football’s premier student-athlete.
To be eligible for the Campbell Trophy a student-athlete must be a senior or graduate student in the final year of eligibility, have at least a 3.2 cumulative grade point average (GPA) on a 4.0 scale, have outstanding football ability as a starter or significant contributor and have demonstrated strong leadership and citizenship. This is the 30th year of the Campbell Trophy. Twelve to 14 finalists for the Campbell Trophy will be announced in November with each receiving an $18,000 postgraduate scholarship. The winner will be announced later this year and claim an additional $25,000 toward postgraduate studies along with the iconic 25-pound bronze statue to celebrate the honor regarded as the “Academic Heisman.”
READ MORE ABOUT THE CAMPBELL TROPHY
Rick Mottram Named Campbell Trophy Semifinalist
Mottram, a two-time CoSIDA Academic All-District 2 and Academic All-Patriot League Team honoree, emerged as the quarterback of Bucknell's defense in 2019. With 102 tackles (64 solo), he became the first Bison to reach the century mark in a single campaign since Evan Byers (119) in 2014. He also totaled eight tackles for a loss, four sacks, two interceptions and one fumble return for a touchdown. He wrapped up his junior campaign with 147 tackles (93 solo), 18 tackles for a loss, six sacks, three forced fumbles, two interceptions and one fumble return in 24 career games, 14 of which were starts in the past two seasons. Mottram was voted as a team captain during the summer of 2020 and represents the Patriot League on the NCAA Division I Student-Athlete Connection Group. A Mechanical Engineering major with a 3.97 GPA, Mottram will work as a systems engineer at Lockheed Martin Space following his graduation from Bucknell.
READ THE BUCKNELL FOOTBALL RELEASE
Grant Breneman Selected as a Semifinalist for William Va. Campbell Trophy
Breneman, a two-time Academic All-Patriot League selection and three-time Academic Honor Roll member, has been among the League’s most productive players during his first three seasons in Hamilton, N.Y. The Mechanicsburg, Pa. native led the League in completion percentage (60.8) in 2019 while finishing third in yards (1,588) and touchdown passes (5). The two-time All-Patriot League selection led the Raiders to a League title and top-10 national ranking in 2018 and was named the League’s Rookie of the Year in 2017 in addition to being a finalist for the STATS FCS Jerry Rice Award, presented to the nation’s top freshman.
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Connor Degenhardt Named a William V. Campbell Trophy Semifinalist
Last season, Degenhardt was named second team All-Patriot League, Academic All-Patriot League and CoSIDA Academic All-District. He started all 13 of Holy Cross' games at quarterback in 2019, hitting on 182 of 341 passes for 2,372 yards and 14 touchdowns. He has also rushed the ball 85 times for five scores, while amassing 2,427 yards of total offense. Degenhardt finished the season ranked fourth in the Patriot League in passing yards, pass efficiency rating (120.7) and total offense on the way to the 2019 League title. The Westford, Mass. native is a psychology major and two-time Patriot League Academic Honor Roll selection.
READ THE HOLY CROSS FOOTBALL RELEASE
Pete Haffner Named Semifinalist for William V. Campbell Trophy
Haffner carries a 3.64 cumulative grade point average as a finance major. He is a two-time Academic All-Patriot League honoree and was named a CoSIDA Academic All-District selection in 2019. The Port Matilda, Pa. native is a three-year member of the Patriot League Academic Honor Roll and has made Lehigh's Dean's List with a GPA of better than 3.6 in four of his first six semesters on campus. On the field, Haffner has been a starter at inside linebacker for the Mountain Hawks for the last year and a half. He was a second team All-Patriot League selection in 2019, starting all 11 games and making 97 tackles with 10 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks and two interceptions. Haffner has 158 career tackles in 30 career games for the Mountain Hawks and is a two-time Patriot League Defensive Player of the Week honoree.
READ THE LEHIGH FOOTBALL RELEASE
ABOUT THE PATRIOT LEAGUE
The Patriot League is in its fourth decade of academic and athletic achievement, continually demonstrating that student-athletes can excel at both academics and athletics without sacrificing high standards. The Patriot League’s athletic success is achieved while its member institutions remain committed to its founding principle of admitting and graduating student-athletes that are academically representative of their class. Participation in athletics at Patriot League institutions is viewed as an important component of a well-rounded education.