From Case Western Reserve University Athletics
Case Western Reserve University senior safety and kick returner Cody Calhoun was named one of the 181 semifinalists for the 2017 National Football Foundation (NFF) William V. Campbell Trophy, presented by Fidelity Investments.
The William V. Campbell Trophy recognizes the best football scholar-athlete in the nation, with the group of semifinalists representing schools across all three NCAA divisions and the NAIA. The NFF will announce 12-14 finalists on November 1, and each of them will receive an $18,000 postgraduate scholarship as a member of the NFF National Scholar-Athlete Class, presented by Fidelity Investments. The finalists will travel to New York City for the 60th NFF Annual Awards Dinner on December 5, where one member of the class will be declared as the winner of the 28th William V. Campbell Trophy and have his postgraduate scholarship increased to $25,000.
Calhoun has served as a team captain for the past two years, appearing in 22 games over his career and recording a total of 76 tackles with three interceptions. In addition, he has returned kicks for CWRU, averaging 24.9 yards per return over his time as a Spartan. Calhoun was named to the All-UAA First Team as both a safety and a kick returner in 2015, and claimed All-PAC Second Team recognition as a kick returner and an honorable mention for his defensive play during the campaign. He was also an All-UAA Second Team selection as a freshman. This year, he has recorded 12 tackles and a pass breakup through three games, while averaging 24.7 yards per return, and was named the UAA Special Team Player of the Week after the squad's opening week win over Chicago.
Academically, Calhoun has recorded a 4.0 cumulative grade point average as a Biology/ Pre-Med major at Case Western Reserve, and is one of just eight semifinalists with a perfect grade point average. He has been named to the PAC Academic Fall Honor Roll three times, is a two-time UAA All-Academic honoree, and was named to CWRU's Van Horn Society. In addition, he has earned High Dean's Honors every semester at CWRU, was the Phi Beta Kappa Prize winner in 2017 for having the best academic record after three semester, and the winner of the Outstanding Junior Award of the College of Arts and Sciences in 2017.
Calhoun has also volunteered as a Patient Ambassador at the Seidman Cancer Center, has been a SMARRT (Students Meeting about Risk & Responsibility Training) Substance Leader, and worked with the Rainbow Babies Oncological Unit on Smoothies, Arts & Crafts Day. He is a Founding Father and current President of Sigma Alpha Epsilon.
Calhoun is one of 33 Division III nominees for the award.
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.