WALTHAM, Mass. -- Bentley University senior running back Andrew Brazicki (Franklin Park, N.J./St. Thomas Aquinas HS) has been named one of a record 199 semifinalists for the William V. Campbell Trophy Presented by Mazda, which recognizes an individual as the absolute best football scholar-athlete in the nation.

Brazicki, a corporate finance and accounting major who has a minor in computer information systems, is one of two Northeast-10 Conference student-athletes on the list and one of 20 from a Division II institution.

Brazicki, who played in all 30 Bentley games since his arrival on campus in 2017, has led the Falcons in rushing each of his first three seasons. The two-time Academic All-Northeast-10 honoree ran for 479 yards as a freshman, 537 in 2018 and a career-high 541 last season when he helped his team to the NE10 championship.

During his career, Brazicki has averaged 4.6 yards per carry, including 5.6 in 2019, and rushed for 14 touchdowns. He's also caught 29 passes for 373 yards and two scores as a Falcon.

Bentley head coach Bill Kavanaugh, in his recommendation letter, said "Andrew has been the pace setter for our program from the day he walked on campus three years ago.  On and off the field, he has led our program in many ways. There is no more evidence than our weekly offseason award named the "High Flyer".  Over the last two years, where we ranked our players in the classroom, community service, training and other responsibilities Andrew was the number one player over half of those weeks. 

"Andrew has produced on the field for three years, but that is just scratching the surface of what makes him special," continued Kavanaugh. "Andrew carries a 3.71 GPA in a very difficult major with a minor in Computer Information Systems. He has made either the President's or Dean's List in every semester he has attended Bentley. He holds the most respected student job on campus as a Trading Room Analyst where he supports all 5,000 students, both graduate and undergraduate, in our live trading room."

The NFF will announce 12-to-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, having his postgraduate scholarship increased to $25,000 and receiving his own 25-pound-bronze version of the iconic statue.

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.

"It is wonderful to see a record number of semifinalists for the Campbell Trophy® during such a turbulent year, proving the Future for Football is bright," said NFF President & CEO Steve Hatchell. "We are extremely proud to highlight each semifinalist's achievements, showcasing their ability to balance academics and athletics at the highest level. The NFF Awards Committee will have an incredibly difficult task in selecting the finalists from this outstanding group of candidates."

In September 2019, Mazda announced a three-year partnership to become the presenting sponsor of the Campbell Trophy®, kicking off the automaker's Power of Potential Platform. Fidelity Investments, a leading provider of workplace savings plans in higher education, serves as the presenting sponsor of the NFF National Scholar-Athlete Awards.

Launched in 1959, the NFF National Scholar-Athlete Awards Presented by Fidelity Investments celebrate their 62nd year in 2020. 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 866 outstanding individuals since the program's inception. This year's postgraduate scholarships will push the program's all-time distribution to more than $11.9 million. The 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, an All-Ivy League player and both the CEO and chairman of Intuit, 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 luncheon at the venue.

An All-Ivy League player and the captain of Columbia's 1961 Ivy League championship team, Campbell 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.

NFF Release