Rutgers long snapper Michael O’Connor has been named a semifinalist for the 2026 National Football Foundation (NFF) William V. Campbell Trophy. O’Connor was one of 206 college football players named a semifinalist for the award.
The NFF Campbell Trophy is college football’s premier scholar-athlete award, recognizing the best in the nation for combined academic success, football performance, and exemplary leadership, according to a press release from the organization. This annual honor underscores
the NFF’s commitment to the student-athlete ideal by celebrating those who excel both on the field and in the classroom.
O’Connor, over the course of his career, was named academic All-Big Ten four times and was named a Big Ten Distinguished Scholar. He is also a member of the Allstate Wuerffel Trophy watch list and Allstate American Football Coaches Association Good Works Team for service off the field. A native of Middletown, New Jersey, he has been a key contributor since arriving on campus to Chop4Change, Rutgers football’s initiative to give back to the community, according to ScarletKnights.com
To be eligible for the Campbell Trophy, a student-athlete 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 NFF will announce 12 to 16 finalists on Oct. 21, and each of them will receive an $18,000 postgraduate scholarship. The finalists will travel to the Bellagio Resort & Casino in Las Vegas for the 68th NFF Annual Awards Dinner on Dec. 8, where their accomplishments will be highlighted. During the event, one member of the class will be declared the winner of the 37th Campbell Trophy and will have his postgraduate scholarship increased to $25,000.
Some of the winners in years past have included NFL stars such as Peyton Manning, Bo Nix and Justin Herbert.
