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LAS VEGAS, Nev. (FOX5) – UNLV linebacker Jackson Woodard is one of 16 finalists for the William v. Campbell Trophy and will receive an $18,000 postgraduate scholarship as a member of the 2024 National Football Foundation National Scholar-Athlete Class Presented by Fidelity Investments®.
The NFF and College Hall of Fame made the announcement Wednesday morning about college football’s premier scholar-athlete award that annually recognizes an individual as the best in the nation for his combined academic success, football performance and exemplary leadership. The first UNLV player to be named a finalist, Woodard is the recipient of the General Robert R. Neyland Scholar-Athlete Award, Endowed by the Haslam Family Foundation.
A senior from Little Rock, Arkansas, Woodard was the league’s Preseason Defensive Player of the Year and started his season by being named national defensive player of the week by both Walter Camp and the Bronko Nagurski Trophy after his performance in an opening win at Houston. He has already tied a school record by winning Mountain West Defensive Player of the Week three times this fall and currently ranks second in the nation in interceptions and second in passes defended to go with his 61 total tackles, a total that ranks third in the conference.
The first First Team Academic All-America winner from UNLV football, the two-year team captain was also on the watch list for the Wuerffel Trophy and the team’s nominee for the AFCA Good Works Team for his work off the field. On Tuesday he was named one of 20 semifinalists for the Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year Award. Woodard graduated in May after maintaining a 3.77 GPA in kinesiology. He is continuing his education by pursuing a graduate certificate. An Academic All-Mountain West pick in 2023, he also made the SEC Academic Honor Roll while playing at Arkansas before moving to the desert.
Woodard and the other finalists will be honored Dec. 10 at the 66th NFF Annual Awards Dinner at the Bellagio Hotel & Casino here in Las Vegas.
“We are honored to have Jackson Woodard receive this prestigious award and I am thankful for all of his tireless work and dedication to our team and the game of college football,” said UNLV head coach Barry Odom. “Being a Campbell Trophy finalist and National Football Foundation Scholar-Athlete is one of the most honorable awards in college football and we are thankful to have Jackson represent UNLV on this platform. We know he will represent the NFF in a great way!”
Woodard and the Rebels (6-1) will celebrate Homecoming on Friday by welcoming Boise State to Allegiant Stadium at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are on sale by calling (702) 739-FANS or visiting unlvtickets.com.
2024 NFF National Scholar-Athlete Class Presented by Fidelity Investments
- Tahj Brooks, RB – Texas Tech (3.55 GPA – Sport Management)
- Robert Coury, LB – Carnegie Mellon [PA] (3.97 GPA – Mechanical Engineering)
- Jaxson Dart, QB – Ole Miss (3.71 GPA – Business)
- Beau Freyler, DB – Iowa State (3.91 GPA – Kinesiology)
- Dillon Gabriel, QB – Oregon (3.43 GPA – Multidisciplinary Studies)
- Ashton Gillotte, DL – Louisville (3.69 GPA – Communications)
- Brody Grebe, DE – Montana State (3.93 GPA – Mechanical Engineering)
- Mark Gronowski, QB – South Dakota State (3.76 GPA – Mechanical Engineering)
- Terrance Hollon, LB – Howard (3.90 GPA – Health Science)
- Jack Kiser, LB – Notre Dame (3.82 GPA – Business Analytics)
- Luke Lehnen, QB – North Central [IL] (3.76 GPA – Exercise Science)
- Brayden Long, QB – Slippery Rock [PA] (4.00 GPA – Sport Management)
- Jake Majors, C – Texas (3.65 GPA – Business Management)
- Seth McLaughlin, C – Ohio State (4.00 GPA – Finance)
- Jalen Milroe, QB – Alabama (3.52 GPA – Management)
- Jackson Woodard, LB – UNLV (3.77 GPA – Kinesiology)
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