Courtesy of Fordham Athletics Communications

Bronx, N.Y. - When grad student linebacker James Conway arrived on campus as a freshman in 2021, Fordham head football coach Joe Conlin had one message for him: Follow then All-American linebacker Ryan Greenhagen and do whatever he does. Conway took that advice to heart, mimicking Greenhagen from practice habits to diet. Today he went even further as Conway was named a finalist for the prestigious William V. Campbell Trophy®, an honor Greenhagen received back in 2022.
 
The National Football Foundation (NFF) & College Hall of Fame announced Conway, an Omaha, Nebraska native, as one of the 16 finalists for the 2025 William V. Campbell Trophy®, college football's premier scholar-athlete award that annually recognizes an individual as the absolute best in the nation for his combined academic success, football performance, and exemplary leadership. The 16 finalists will each receive an $18,000 postgraduate scholarship as members of the 2025 NFF National Scholar-Athlete Class Presented by Fidelity Investments®.
 
Conway, a preseason All-American and four-time All-Patriot League selection, is on pace to become the all-time leading tackler in FCS history, entering this weekend's game with Lehigh with 539 career stops, eleven shy of the NCAA FCS record of 550 set by NFF College Football Hall of Famer Boomer Grigsby from Illinois State.
 
A two-year captain, Conway is a three-time First Team All-Patriot League selection. The 2022 Sophomore All-American already holds the Fordham and Patriot League career tackles records. This season, Conway leads the FCS in total tackles (103) and tackles per game (14.7).
 
Conway has excelled academically, graduating magna cum laude with a 3.71 GPA in May 2025 as a marketing information systems major. A two-time CSC Academic All-District selection and four-time member of the Patriot League Academic Honor Roll, Conway is currently pursuing a master's degree in artificial intelligence. He was a finalist for the FedEx Doris Robinson Scholar-Athlete Award in 2024, which goes to the top FCS football student-athlete.
 
The 16 finalists were selected from an impressive 180 semifinalists nationwide from among all NCAA divisions and the NAIA.
 
"Each year, we are thrilled to announce the finalists for the Campbell Trophy®," said NFF Chairman Archie Manning, whose sons Peyton (a Campbell Trophy® recipient) and Eli were NFF National Scholar-Athletes in 1997 and 2003, respectively. "These finalists exemplify the very best that our sport has to offer on the field, in the classroom and as leaders in their communities. They exude excellence in all areas of their lives, and we know they have only begun to reach their potential."
 
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. Click here for more information on the Awards Dinner, including options to purchase tickets online, special travel rates to the event from Delta Air Lines, and room rates at the Bellagio.
 
"The NFF Awards Committee faced a challenging task in selecting the best of the best from an already impressive list of candidates this year," said NFF President & CEO Steve Hatchell. "We're thrilled to shine our spotlight on this group of finalists as they serve without question as an inspiration for the next generation to emulate. We look forward to celebrating their achievements at our event in December and supporting their continued development with postgraduate scholarships."
 
Submitted by their schools, which are limited to one nominee each, candidates for the Campbell Trophy^® must be either a senior player who will complete his final year of eligibility during the 2025 season or be a graduated player or grad transfer who has already earned a bachelor's degree and participating in the 2025 season; must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.2 on a 4.0 scale; must have outstanding football ability as a starter/significant contributor; and must have exhibited exemplary leadership on the field, in the classroom and within the community.