PSU: Sutherland named semifinalist for William V. Campbell Trophy

UNIVERSITY PARK, PA – Penn State redshirt senior linebacker Jonathan Sutherland was selected as a semifinalist for the William V. Campbell Trophy, college football’s premier scholar-athlete award, announced by the National Football Foundation & College Football Hall of Fame on Wednesday.

Celebrating its 33rd 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.

The NFF will announce 12-14 finalists on Oct. 26, and each of them will receive an $18,000 postgraduate scholarship as a member of the 2022 NFF National Scholar-Athlete Class Presented by Fidelity Investments. The finalists will travel to Bellagio Resort & Casino in Las Vegas for the 64th NFF Annual Awards Dinner Presented by Las Vegas on Dec. 6, where their accomplishments will be highlighted in front of one of the most powerful audiences in all of sports.

Jonathan Sutherland · R-Sr.+ · LB · 5-11 · 211 · Ottawa, Ontario · Episcopal (Va.)

• Is a member of the Paul Hornung Award watch list.
• Has appeared in 49 career games, including seven starts, at Penn State.
• Voted a team captain for the fourth-straight season, joining Sean Clifford as the only four-time captains in program history.
• Earned bachelor’s degree in labor and employment relations in December 2020 and is currently pursuing a master’s degree in educational leadership.
• Is a five-time Dean’s List selection and two-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree.
• Sutherland notched three tackles, including his first career full sack, and his 100th career tackle at Purdue.
• The redshirt senior tallied his first career fumble recovery at Auburn.
• Lined up at linebacker and safety in 2021, making 24 tackles (13 solo), two tackles for loss, an interception and a pass breakup.
• Recorded first career interception against Rutgers (11/20/21).
• Blocked two punts against Idaho (8/31/20).

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.

Launched in 1959, the NFF National Scholar-Athlete Awards Presented by Fidelity Investments celebrate their 64th year in 2022. The awards were the first initiative in history to grant postgraduate scholarships based on both a player’s academic and athletic accomplishments, and the NFF has recognized 891 outstanding individuals since the program’s inception. This year’s postgraduate scholarships will push the program’s all-time distribution to more than $12.3 million.

The Campbell Trophy® was first awarded in 1990, adding to the program’s prestige. Past recipients include two Rhodes Scholars, a Rhodes Scholar finalist, two Heisman Trophy winners and seven first-round NFL draft picks. Named in honor of the late Bill Campbell, the trophy has been prominently displayed inside its official home at the New York Athletic Club since 2013, and the winner is honored each year during a special reception at the storied venue.

No. 11/12 Penn State welcomes Northwestern to Beaver Stadium on Saturday. Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m. on ESPN.

The 2022 Penn State football season is presented by PSECU.