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IRVING, Texas – Butler offensive lineman Bryan Bystol has been selected as a semifinalist for the 2023 William V. Campbell Trophy, an announcement made by the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame. Bystol is a redshirt-senior from Libertyville, Ill. with a perfect 4.0 grade-point average.
 
A two-year starter and two-time Academic All-PFL First Team selection, Bystol is one of three PFL players to be recognized as a semifinalist. Dayton wide receiver Derek Willits, and Marist linebacker/long snapper Justin Iaccio were among the group of 39 NCAA FCS student-athletes to be honored.
 
Celebrating its 34th year, the Campbell Trophy® recognizes an individual as the absolute best football scholar-athlete in the nation for his combined academic success, football performance, and exemplary leadership.
 
Nominated by their schools, which are limited to one nominee each, candidates for the awards must be a senior or graduate student in their final year of playing eligibility, have a GPA of at least 3.2 on a 4.0 scale, have outstanding football ability as a first team player or significant contributor and have demonstrated strong leadership and citizenship. The NFF Awards Committee selects the class each year, comprising a nationally recognized group of media, College Football Hall of Famers, and athletics administrators.
 
The NFF will announce 12-14 finalists on Oct. 25, and each of them will receive an $18,000 postgraduate scholarship as a member of the 2023 NFF National Scholar-Athlete Class Presented by Fidelity Investments. The finalists will travel to the ARIA Resort & Casino in Las Vegas for the 65th NFF Annual Awards Dinner Presented by Las Vegas on Dec. 5, where their accomplishments will be highlighted in front of one of the most powerful audiences in all of sports. During the event, one class member will be declared the winner of the 34th Campbell Trophy® and his postgraduate scholarship will be increased to $25,000.
 
"These 201 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 906 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 to develop the next generation of influential leaders."
 
2023 William V. Campbell Trophy Semifinalists Notes
- 34th year of the William V. Campbell Trophy®
- 65th year of the NFF National Scholar-Athlete Awards Presented by Fidelity Investments
- 201 Semifinalists
- 3.65 Average GPA
- 121 Nominees who have already earned their bachelor's degrees
- 5 Nominees who have earned a master's degree
- 10 Nominees with a perfect 4.0 GPA
- 63 Nominees with a 3.8 GPA or better
- 85 Nominees with a 3.7 GPA or better
- 24 Academic All-America selections
- 121 Captains
- 24 All-Americans
- 108 All-Conference picks
- 89 Nominees from the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS)
- 39 Nominees from the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision (FCS)
- 15 Nominees from NCAA Division II
- 48 Nominees from NCAA Division III
- 10 Nominees from the NAIA
- 86 Offensive Players
- 99 Defensive Players
- 16 Special Teams Players