Washington University in St. Louis senior defensive back  Andrew Whitaker  was named a semifinalist for the 2020  William V. Campbell Trophy®, as announced by  The National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame (NFF). 

"We are proud of Andrew and his many accomplishments. He truly exemplifies the ideals of the Campbell Trophy," said head football coach Aaron Keen. "Andrew is an outstanding student, leader and athlete who commits himself to making a difference in the world around him."

Whitaker is one of 199  semifinalists who hail from all NCAA divisions and the NAIA, including 40  from Division III. 

Celebrating its 31st  year in 2020, the award recognizes an individual as the absolute best football scholar-athlete in the nation for his combined academic success, football performance and exemplary leadership. 

Whitaker started all 10 games at defensive back a year ago and was a second-team All-College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW) selection. He led the squad with seven pass deflections and was also seventh with 32 tackles.  

Whitaker tied his career-high with 10 tackles in a 52-13 loss at No. 5 Wheaton (Ill.) on Oct. 19, and had his lone interception in the 35-14 win over Augustana on Nov. 2.  

He has started 19 of 28 career games for the Bears registering 99 tackles, three interceptions and five blocked kicks. Whitaker is also a four-time All-American and six time University Athletic Association (UAA) champion in track and field, and won the 2019 NCAA Division III Outdoor 4x400m relay national title. 

 Off the field, Whitaker is involved in Bear Cubs, Dance CPSR (Cerebral Palsy Sports Rehabilitation), McKelvey Takes Responsibility Campaign and WU BLAC. In addition, he spent eight days assisting 1,200 patients as part of a medical brigade in Honduras and did an internship with Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America. 

Whitaker has a 3.60 grade point average while majoring in biomedical engineering, and is a two-time Academic All-CCIW honoree. He is also a Gephardt Civic Scholar, Annika Rodriguez Scholar and received the Omega Psi Phi Rising Stars Scholarship. 

Brandon Roberts, a 2003 WashU graduate, was selected as the 2002 William V. Campbell Trophy Award winner, becoming the first and only non-Division I student-athlete to receive the award. Brad Klein, a 1998 graduate, and 2004 graduate John Woock were selected as finalists in 1997 and 2003, respectively.   

The NFF will announce 12-14  finalists in November, and each of them will receive an $18,000 postgraduate scholarship as a member of the 2020 NFF National Scholar-Athlete Class presented by Fidelity Investments.  

Later this year, one member of the class will be declared as the winner of the 31st  Campbell Trophy® Presented by Mazda and have his postgraduate scholarship increased to $25,000.