IRVING, TX – Johns Hopkins senior defensive lineman Isaac Urquidi is among 177 college football players nationwide who have been announced as semifinalists for the 2025 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 36th 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.  Urquidi is one of 33 nominees in Division III and is one of two nominees from the Centennial Conference.

Urquidi is in his third season as a starter on the Blue Jay defensive line and has helped the Blue Jays to a 37-4 record with two Centennial Conference titles, two trips to the NCAA Playoffs, a run to the 2024 NCAA Semifinals and a 20-1 record in Centennial Conference games during his career.  Johns Hopkins finished the 2024 season ranked third in the nation in both major Division III polls, while the Blue Jays capped the 2023 season ranked eighth after advancing to the NCAA Quarterfinals.

Through last week's 40-22 win at nationally-ranked Susquehanna, Urquidi counts 116 career tackles to his credit, including 30.5 for losses and 10.5 sacks, from his spot on the interior of the Blue Jay defensive line.  He is currently ranked eighth in school history in career tackles for loss and has started 30 of the 39 games he has played in since arriving at Johns Hopkins.

Uquidi has twice been named to the All-Centennial Conference Team as he earned first team honors as a junior after totaling 47 tackles, including 9.5 for losses and 5.0 sacks and was a second team selection as a sophomore, when he posted a career-high 48 tackles, including 13.0 for losses and 3.5 sacks.

Academically, Urquidi is majoring in electrical engineering and carries a 3.54 cumulative grade point average.  He was a College Sports Communicator's (CSC) Academic All-District selection in 2023, has twice earned Academic All-Centennial Conference honors and has also twice been named to the Centennial Conference Academic Honor Roll.  Student-athletes who earn All-Centennial Conference honors and a spot on the Centennial Academic Honor Roll are also named to the Academic All-Centennial Team.

Off the field, Urquidi has been active on campus and with various initiatives both volunteer and career related.  He has been a Pilot Leader as a tutor for undergraduate Physics II students at Johns Hopkins while also volunteering with the Pen Lucy Action Network (PLAN) in Baltimore to work with under-performing elementary school students in reading and writing.

In addition, he has completed internships at Sargent & Lundy (Elkridge, MD) as an Associate Substation Engineer and with Matt MacDonald (Austin, TX) as a Transmission Line Engineer.  In each situation, he was able to apply his education as an electrical engineering major into practical situations to further prepare for his future career endeavors.

This year will mark the 67th year of the NFF National Scholar-Athlete Awards Presented by Fidelity Investments, which began in 1959, and the 36th year of the Campbell Trophy®, which was added to the program in 1990. The NFF will announce 12-16 finalists on Oct. 22, and each of finalist will receive an $18,000 postgraduate scholarship as a member of the 2025 NFF National Scholar-Athlete Class Presented by Fidelity Investments.

One of the finalists will be named the winner of the 36th Campbell Trophy® during the 67th NFF Annual Awards Dinner Presented by Las Vegas on December 9 and have his postgraduate scholarship increased to $25,000. 

The 177 semifinalists have been nominated by their respective schools and each nominee must be a senior who will complete his final year of eligibility during the 2025 season or a graduate student or graduate transfer who has already earned a degree and will participate during the 2025 season.  They must 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 candidates come from all levels of play in the NCAA and the NAIA.

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