IRVING, Texas - Fresno State senior linebacker Levelle Bailey has been named a semifinalist for the 2023 William V. Campbell Trophy, the National Football Foundation announced on Wednesday.
The National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame (NFF) proudly announced today a record number of 201 semifinalists for the 2023 William V. Campbell Trophy®, college football's premier scholar-athlete award (FBS, FCS, DII, DIII, NAIA). The new highwater mark eclipses the 199 nominees in 2000. The impressive list of candidates boasts an impressive 3.62 average GPA, with more than half of the semifinalists having already earned their bachelor's degrees.
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.
Bailey is one of the semifinalists who have already earned their bachelor's degree, having earned his in communication in the spring 2023 semester. He graduated with his bachelor's with a 3.53 cumulative GPA. The senior is currently studying towards a certificate of advanced study educational technology. He is one of five semifinalists from the Mountain West.
The Sacramento, Calif. native is a four-time academic All-Mountain West selection (2019-22). He has also been on the Dean's List in four semesters.
Bailey has been an integral part of the Bulldog football program since 2019, having played in 49 career games and started in 40. Bailey is a three-time All-Mountain West honorable mention linebacker (2020, 2021, 2022). He has 219 total tackles in his career.
Prior to the start of 2023, Bailey was added to the watch lists for the Polynesian College Football Player of the Year, the Bednarik Award, the Wuerffel Trophy, and the Bronko Nagurski Trophy. He was also recognized by the Shrine Bowl, the AllState Good Works Team, Phil Steele and Athlon Sports.
The veteran Bulldog has helped Fresno State to win the 2022 MW Championship. He was also a part of the Jimmy Kimmel LA Bowl (2022) and PUBG Mobile New Mexico Bowl (2021) wins for the program. The Bulldogs' defense has consistently been one of the best in the Mountain West since his arrival, and, as a team, the Bulldogs have been ranked in the Top 25 in the last three seasons.
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. Live during the event, one member of the class will be declared as the winner of the 34th 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 room rates at the ARIA.
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 abilityas 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.