Jackson Waring, QB – Grand View (IA)
3.88 GPA – Psychology
Head Coach: E.J. Peterson | Athletics Director: Troy Plummer
Faculty Athletics Representative: Dr. Zeb Sullivan
Coach Bob Blackman Scholar-Athlete Award
A selfless and humble leader, Grand View (IA) quarterback Jackson Waring has distinguished himself as one of the most complete student-athletes in the NAIA, combining academic excellence and leading the Vikings to the 2024 national title. The Ankeny, Iowa, native becomes the first NFF National Scholar-Athlete in program history.
Graduating in May 2024 with a degree in psychology and a 3.88 GPA, Waring is currently pursuing a master's in organizational leadership. A five-time Dean's List honoree, he earned recognition as a 2024 Daktronics NAIA Scholar-Athlete and was part of an undergraduate research team that won the 2023 Shape Symposium Award in psychology for their study on fears and phobias.
The 2024 NAIA National Player of the Year, Waring led the Vikings to a perfect 14-0 record, culminating in a Heart North Conference title and the NAIA national championship. A three-year letterman and three-year team captain, he also guided the Vikings to an undefeated 2023 regular season (10-0), a trip to the NAIA Quarterfinals, and a final No. 3 national ranking.
A Third Team NAIA All-American, Waring has also earned honors as a two-time Heart of America First Team All-Conference selection and a two-time Heart North Player of the Year. During his three years with the Vikings, Waring has thrown for 3,047 yards and 35 touchdowns while adding 761 yards and 10 scores on the ground. Waring began his career at Illinois State, where he appeared in 10 games and threw for 879 yards and six touchdowns in 2021, adding two more rushing touchdowns.
Beyond football, Waring leads a weekly Bible study for his teammates.
NFF Proudly Announces the Finalists for 2025 William V. Campbell Trophy®
Sixteen finalists will each receive an $18,000 postgraduate scholarship as a member of the 2025 NFF National Scholar-Athlete Class Presented by Fidelity Investments®.
IRVING, Texas (Oct. 22, 2025) – The National Football Foundation (NFF) & College Hall of Fame announced today the finalists for the 2025 William V. Campbell Trophy®, college football's premier scholar-athlete award that annually recognizes an individual as the absolute best in the nation for his combined academic success, football performance, and exemplary leadership. The 16 finalists will each receive an $18,000 postgraduate scholarship as members of the 2025 NFF National Scholar-Athlete Class Presented by Fidelity Investments®:
· Robby Ballentine, WR – DePauw (IN) // Biochemistry (3.92 GPA)
· Jonah Coleman, RB – Washington // Education (3.91 GPA)
· James Conway, LB – Fordham // Marketing Information Systems (3.71 GPA)
· Jalon Daniels, QB – Kansas // Sport Management (3.58 GPA)
· Ty Dugger, DB – Harding (AR) // Accounting (3.92 GPA)
· Aaron Graves, DL – Iowa // Exercise Science (4.03 GPA)
· Blake Horvath, QB – Navy // Operations Research (3.69 GPA)
· Chandler Kirton, OL – Austin Peay // Management (3.92 GPA)
· Trey Moore, LB – Texas // Physical Culture & Sports (3.65 GPA)
· Red Murdock, LB – Buffalo // Psychology (3.46 GPA)
· Parker Navarro, QB – Ohio // Integrated Health Studies (3.96 GPA)
· Sawyer Robertson, QB – Baylor // Marketing (3.73 GPA)
· Eli Stowers, TE – Vanderbilt // Individual Studies (3.92 GPA)
· Jack Strand, QB – Minnesota State Moorhead // Engineering Physics (3.87 GPA)
· Andon Thomas, LB – Army West Point // Chemical Engineering (3.98 GPA)
· Jackson Waring, QB – Grand View (IA) // Psychology (3.88 GPA)
The 16 finalists were selected from an impressive 180 semifinalists nationwide from among all NCAA divisions and the NAIA.
"Each year, we are thrilled to announce the finalists for the Campbell Trophy®," said NFF Chairman Archie Manning, whose sons Peyton (a Campbell Trophy® recipient) and Eli were NFF National Scholar-Athletes in 1997 and 2003, respectively. "These finalists exemplify the very best that our sport has to offer on the field, in the classroom and as leaders in their communities. They exude excellence in all areas of their lives, and we know they have only begun to reach their potential."
The finalists will travel to the Bellagio Resort & Casino in Las Vegas for the 67th NFF Annual Awards Dinner Presented by Las Vegas on Dec. 9, 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 36th 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 Bellagio.
"The NFF Awards Committee faced a challenging task in selecting the best of the best from an already impressive list of candidates this year," said NFF President & CEO Steve Hatchell. "We're thrilled to shine our spotlight on this group of finalists as they serve without question as an inspiration for the next generation to emulate. We look forward to celebrating their achievements at our event in December and supporting their continued development with postgraduate scholarships."
Submitted by their schools, which are limited to one nominee each, candidates for the Campbell Trophy® must be either a senior player who will complete his final year of eligibility during the 2025 season or be a graduated player or grad transfer who has already earned a bachelor's degree and participating in the 2025 season; must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.2 on a 4.0 scale; must have outstanding football ability as a starter/significant contributor; and must have exhibited exemplary leadership on the field, in the classroom and within the community.
2025 NFF Campbell Trophy® Finalists Highlights
· 3.82 Average GPA
· 16 captains (permanent or game), including one four-year captain (Daniels), one three-year captain (Waring), and four two-year captains (Conway, Kirton, Navarro, Strand, Thomas)
· 8 players who have already graduated (Conway, Daniels, Graves, Kirton, Murdock, Navarro, Stowers, Waring), including two players who have already earned a master's degree (Navarro, Stowers)
· 6 Academic All-America selections (Ballentine, Daniels, Dugger, Graves, Moore, Strand)
· 12 players receiving conference academic honors (Ballentine, Conway, Daniels, Dugger, Graves, Kirton, Moore, Murdock, Navarro, Robertson, Stowers, Strand)
· 6 All-America performers (Ballentine, Conway, Dugger, Stowers, Strand, Waring)
· 3 Conference Players of the Year (Moore [at UTSA], Strand, Waring)
· 15 All-Conference selections (Ballentine, Coleman, Conway, Daniels, Dugger, Graves, Kirton, Moore [at UTSA], Murdock, Navarro, Robertson, Stowers, Strand, Thomas, Waring)
· 8 school record holders (Ballentine, Conway, Daniels, Horvath, Moore [at UTSA], Murdock, Navarro, Strand)
· 2 members of national championship teams (Dugger, Waring)
· 8 members of conference championship teams (Ballentine, Conway, Dugger, Kirton, Moore [at UTSA], Navarro, Thomas, Waring)
· 15 members of postseason teams (College Football Playoff – Moore; FBS Bowl Games – Coleman, Daniels, Graves, Horvath, Moore, Murdock, Navarro, Robertson, Stowers, Thomas; FCS Playoffs – Conway, Kirton; Division II Playoffs – Dugger; Division III Playoffs – Ballentine; NAIA Playoffs – Waring)
· 6 members of currently ranked teams (Ballentine, Dugger, Kirton, Moore, Stowers, Waring)
· 4 players who are their school's first NFF National Scholar-Athlete (Dugger, Kirton, Navarro, Waring)
· 6 transfer players (Coleman—previously at Arizona; Moore—previously at UTSA; Navarro—previously at UCF; Robertson—previously at Mississippi State; Stowers—previously at New Mexico State and at Texas A&M; Waring—previously at Illinois State)
· 10 Offensive Players (Ballentine, Coleman, Daniels, Horvath, Kirton, Navarro, Robertson, Stowers, Strand, Waring)
· 6 Defensive Players (Conway, Dugger, Graves, Moore, Murdock, Thomas)
Following the 67th NFF Annual Awards Dinner Presented by Las Vegas, the recipient of the 2025 Campbell Trophy® will be honored at several other prestigious events. On Friday, Dec. 12, he will be featured during "The Home Depot College Football Awards" on ESPN. Then, on Monday, Dec. 15, a reception will be held in his honor at the New York Athletic Club (NYAC), the official home of the trophy since 2013.
Launched in 1959, the NFF National Scholar-Athlete Awards Presented by Fidelity Investments celebrate their 67th year in 2025. The awards were the first initiative in history to grant postgraduate scholarships based on both a player's academic and athletic accomplishments. Since 2011, Fidelity Investments, a leading provider of workplace savings plans in higher education, has served as the presenting sponsor of the NFF National Scholar-Athlete Awards.
As part of its support of the NFF National Scholar-Athlete Awards, Fidelity Investments helped launch the NFF Faculty Salutes, which recognize the contributions of the faculty athletics representatives at each of the institutions with a finalist for the Campbell Trophy®. The NFF presents each of the faculty athletics representatives with a plaque, and Fidelity donates $5,000 for the academic support services at each school. The salutes have recognized 214 FARs since the program's inception, and Fidelity has made a total of $1.07 million (including $80,000 this year) in donations.
Including the 2025 Campbell Trophy® finalists, the NFF has honored 954 individuals with National Scholar-Athlete Awards, and this year's postgraduate scholarships will push the program's all-time distribution to more than $13.2 million.
Past recipients have used their postgraduate scholarships to set the standard for excellence in our society, earning more than 177 medical degrees, 108 law degrees, 83 MBAs and 46 PhDs. Others have used their financial backing to enhance successful careers in finance, consulting and engineering. Continuing their excellence on the field, more than 274 recipients have played in the NFL, with an average career of six seasons or double the length of a typical NFL player. Past recipients also include 13 Rhodes Scholars and six Heisman Trophy winners.
Past NFF National Scholar-Athletes have made it big in a variety of fields, including actor and film producer Mark Harmon (UCLA); Houston Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans (Alabama); NASA astronauts Leland Melvin (Richmond) and Michael Hopkins (Illinois); and current athletics directors: Trev Alberts (Texas A&M) and Josh Whitman (Illinois). NFF National Scholar-Athletes who became NFL stars include Drew Brees, Derek Carr, Kirk Cousins, Doug Flutie, Joey Galloway, Brian Griese, Justin Herbert, Jeff Hostetler, Bradie James, Tyler Lockett, Alex Mack, Johnny Musso, Bo Nix, Ryan Tannehill, Joe Thomas, Jonathan Vilma, Wesley Walls and Christian Wilkins, among many others.
A total of 49 former National Scholar-Athletes have been inducted into the NFF College Football Hall of Fame and nine are in the Pro Football Hall of Fame as well: Tony Boselli (Southern California), Derrick Brooks (Florida State), Dave Casper (Notre Dame), Randy Gradishar (Ohio State), Peyton Manning (Tennessee), Merlin Olsen (Utah State), Lee Roy Selmon (Oklahoma), Joe Thomas (Wisconsin) and Steve Young (BYU). Click here for a database of all the past NFF National Scholar-Athletes.
The Campbell Trophy®, first awarded in 1990 to Air Force's Chris Howard, has added to the program's prestige. Past recipients include two Rhodes Scholars, a Rhodes Scholar finalist, two Heisman Trophy winners and nine first-round NFL draft picks. For the complete list of former winners, please click here.
The trophy is named in honor of the late Bill Campbell, an All-Ivy League player and the captain of Columbia's 1961 Ivy League championship team who found his true calling after an unlikely career change at age 39 from Columbia football coach to advertising executive. His ability to recruit, develop and manage talented executives – all lessons learned on the gridiron – proved to be a critical component of his ability to inspire his business teams to the highest levels of success. As the CEO and chairman of Intuit, Campbell's strong leadership and unique talent in building teams allowed him to become one of the most influential individuals in Silicon Valley. Using the lessons of the gridiron he mentored Steve Jobs of Apple, Jeff Bezos of Amazon, Sheryl Sandberg of Facebook, Larry Page, Sergey Brin, Sundar Pichai and Eric Schmidt of Google, Scott Cook and Brad Smith of Intuit, John Doerr of Kleiner-Perkins, Dick Costolo at Twitter, Diane Greene of VMware and countless others. His contributions have been captured in a book titled "The Trillion Dollar Coach," and during his lifetime, he affectionately became known as the "Coach of Silicon Valley."
Campbell joined the NFF Board in 1978 while he was still a coach at Columbia, and he continued to serve with distinction until his passing in 2016. In 2004, the NFF recognized Campbell's contributions and accomplishments by presenting him with the NFF Gold Medal, the organization's highest honor. In 2009, the NFF renamed college football's premier scholar-athlete award as The William V. Campbell Trophy® as an inspiration to future generations.
(National Football Foundation)
Full story and all recipients linked here - https://ow.ly/JH5p50XgheS
