IRVING, TX – Johns Hopkins senior offensive lineman JR Woods is among 156 college football players nationwide who have been announced as semifinalists for the 2022 William V. Campbell Trophy; the prestigious Campbell Trophy is college football's premier scholar-athlete award and is presented by the National Football Foundation (NFF).

Celebrating its 33^rd 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.  Woods is one of 29 nominees in Division III and one of just two from a school in the Centennial Conference.

A co-captain this season, Woods was a First Team AP All-American, a Second-Team D3football.com All-American, a First Team All-Centennial Conference and First Team D3football.com All-Region selection in 2021.  He helped the Blue Jays to a 10-2 record, a share of the Centennial Conference title and a trip to the second round of the NCAA Playoffs last season.  With Woods anchoring the offensive line, the Blue Jays set school records for points per game (46.5) and passing yards per game (346.8) in last season.

This season, again with Woods leading the way from his spot at right tackle, Johns Hopkins is averaging 53.5 points and 530.5 yards per game.  The Blue Jays are currently 4-0 on the year and ranked seventh in the nation by the AFCA and eighth by D3football.com.

In addition to his exploits on the field, Woods was a First Team CoSIDA Academic All-American and the Centennial Conference Football Scholar Athlete-of-the Year in 2021.  He is majoring in economics and carries a 3.65 cumulative GPA.

The NFF will announce 12-14 finalists on Oct. 26, and each of them will receive an $18,000 postgraduate scholarship as a member of the 2022 NFF National Scholar-Athlete Class Presented by Fidelity Investments. The finalists will travel to Bellagio Resort & Casino in Las Vegas for the 64th NFF Annual Awards Dinner Presented by Las Vegas on Dec. 6, 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 33rd 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 Bellagio and a concierge service provided by the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority.

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 class is selected each year by the NFF Awards Committee, which is comprised of a nationally recognized group of media, College Football Hall of Famers and athletics administrators.
 

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