DALLAS, Texas – Northern Arizona senior fullback Jake Hess has been named a candidate for the 2012 NFF National Scholar-Athlete Awards. He is one of 35 players from the Football Championship Subdivision among the 147 nominees who comprise the list of semifinalists for the 2012 William V. Campbell Trophy, endowed by HealthSouth, which recognizes an individual as the absolute best football scholar-athlete in the nation.
“It is something I put a lot of time and effort into,” said Hess of his academic work. “Ever since I was little, it is something that was stressed in my family. I take pride in my grades and working really hard on the field, too.”
Hess, a native of Reno, Nev., was a 2011 All-Big Sky second-team selection. He was named the Outstanding Junior of the Year on offense at team banquet after seeing action in 10 games with one start. He is majoring in psychology and has a 3.55 grade point average. He is scheduled to graduate in May.
"This year's candidates truly embody the National Football Foundation's mission of building leaders through football," said NFF Chairman Archie Manning whose sons Peyton (1997 Campbell Trophy winner) and Eli were named NFF National Scholar-Athletes in 1997 and 2003, respectively. "They are standouts in the classroom and on the field and have become leaders in their respective communities. Each school should take great pride in being represented by such well-rounded young men who will undoubtedly go on to do great things in life."
Candidates for the awards must be a senior or graduate student in their final year of 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.
The NFF Awards Committee will select up to 16 recipients, and the results will be announced Oct. 23. Each recipient will receive an $18,000 postgraduate scholarship and will vie as finalists for the 2012 William V. Campbell Trophy.
