Burns Chosen as Semifinalist for Campbell Trophy
Oct 02, 2020 | Football
MANHATTAN, Kan. – Kansas State senior running back Tyler Burns is one of a record 199 players from all NCAA divisions and the NAIA – including 85 FBS players – to be named a semifinalist for the 2020 William V. Campbell Trophy, the National Football Foundation & College Football Hall of Fame (NFF) has announced. The award recognizes an individual as the absolute best football scholar-athlete in the nation.
A native of Wichita, Kansas, Burns is the seventh Wildcat semifinalist for the award in as many years, joining Tyler Lockett (2014), Stanton Weber (2015), Will Davis (2016), Trent Tanking (2017), Dalton Risner (2018) and Adam Holtorf (2019). Lockett, Risner, Holtorf and Tysyn Hartman (2011) were all named finalists for the award.
"This is terrific news. To set a record for the number of Campbell nominees is extra special during the pandemic because it shows how the stature of the award continues to rise even during these challenging times," said NFF Chairman Archie Manning, whose sons Peyton (Campbell Trophy winner) and Eli were named NFF National Scholar-Athletes in 1997 and 2003, respectively. "We have worked hard to expand the profile of the award, and it's extremely gratifying to have so many schools participate this year with nominations. We believe it sends an important message to the younger student-athletes that you truly can do it all, succeeding on the field, in the classroom and as leaders in the community."
The William V. Campbell Trophy criteria states a player must be a senior or graduate student in their final year of playing eligibility, have a GPA of at least 3.2, have outstanding football ability and have demonstrated strong leadership and citizenship.
Burns has played in 28 career games, including all 13 during the 2017 and 2019 seasons. Last year, he led the Wildcats with six special teams tackles, while he rushed for 148 yards and two touchdowns on 26 carries. Burns set a career high with 64 yards and scored his first-career touchdown in last year's season opener against Nicholls, and he carded another rushing score against Kansas.
Off the field, Burns earned First Team Academic All-Big 12 honors a season ago as he carries a 3.265 cumulative GPA. He obtained his undergraduate degree in social sciences in the spring of 2019. More recently, Burns was chosen as the chair of the newly formed Student-Athlete Social Justice Action Committee.
The NFF will announce 12-to-14 finalists in November, and each of them will receive an $18,000 postgraduate scholarship as a member of the 2020 NFF National Scholar-Athlete Class. Later this year, one member of the class will be declared as the winner of the 31st Campbell Trophy, having his postgraduate scholarship increased to $25,000 and receiving his own 25-pound-bronze version of the iconic statue.
Kansas State takes on Texas Tech in its Big 12 home opener on Saturday inside Bill Snyder Family Stadium. The game kicks off at 2:30 p.m., and will be aired on FS1.
A native of Wichita, Kansas, Burns is the seventh Wildcat semifinalist for the award in as many years, joining Tyler Lockett (2014), Stanton Weber (2015), Will Davis (2016), Trent Tanking (2017), Dalton Risner (2018) and Adam Holtorf (2019). Lockett, Risner, Holtorf and Tysyn Hartman (2011) were all named finalists for the award.
"This is terrific news. To set a record for the number of Campbell nominees is extra special during the pandemic because it shows how the stature of the award continues to rise even during these challenging times," said NFF Chairman Archie Manning, whose sons Peyton (Campbell Trophy winner) and Eli were named NFF National Scholar-Athletes in 1997 and 2003, respectively. "We have worked hard to expand the profile of the award, and it's extremely gratifying to have so many schools participate this year with nominations. We believe it sends an important message to the younger student-athletes that you truly can do it all, succeeding on the field, in the classroom and as leaders in the community."
The William V. Campbell Trophy criteria states a player must be a senior or graduate student in their final year of playing eligibility, have a GPA of at least 3.2, have outstanding football ability and have demonstrated strong leadership and citizenship.
Burns has played in 28 career games, including all 13 during the 2017 and 2019 seasons. Last year, he led the Wildcats with six special teams tackles, while he rushed for 148 yards and two touchdowns on 26 carries. Burns set a career high with 64 yards and scored his first-career touchdown in last year's season opener against Nicholls, and he carded another rushing score against Kansas.
Off the field, Burns earned First Team Academic All-Big 12 honors a season ago as he carries a 3.265 cumulative GPA. He obtained his undergraduate degree in social sciences in the spring of 2019. More recently, Burns was chosen as the chair of the newly formed Student-Athlete Social Justice Action Committee.
The NFF will announce 12-to-14 finalists in November, and each of them will receive an $18,000 postgraduate scholarship as a member of the 2020 NFF National Scholar-Athlete Class. Later this year, one member of the class will be declared as the winner of the 31st Campbell Trophy, having his postgraduate scholarship increased to $25,000 and receiving his own 25-pound-bronze version of the iconic statue.
Kansas State takes on Texas Tech in its Big 12 home opener on Saturday inside Bill Snyder Family Stadium. The game kicks off at 2:30 p.m., and will be aired on FS1.
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