IRVING, Texas – Carson-Newman senior safety Major Williams has been chosen as a semifinalist for the the National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame's (NFF) 2024 William V. Campbell Trophy, the organization announced Wednesday.
Williams is Carson-Newman's first semifinalist for the Campbell trophy in a decade. William Alderman, a future SAC Scholar Athlete of the Year, was recognized that season.
Celebrating its 35th 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. 23, and each of them will receive an $18,000 postgraduate scholarship as a member of the 2024 NFF National Scholar-Athlete Class Presented by Fidelity Investments. The finalists will travel to the Bellagio Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas for the 66th NFF Annual Awards Dinner Presented by Las Vegas on Dec. 10, 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 35th Campbell Trophy and have his postgraduate scholarship increased to $25,000.
Off the field, Williams spends time in the offseason ready to kids at area elementary schools in his native Fort Myers, something that he has carried over doing in Jefferson City in season. He is a volunteer coach in the offseason at Dunbar High School in Florida and trains youth in the community for football, basketball and baseball.
He is a volunteer coach at the football camps hosted by VL Sports in his hometown. Twice a week, he works with the Fort Myers Beautification Committee to pick up trash and do basic yardwork in his community in the offseason.
Finally, he spends time helping out at an area barber shop that cut his hair as a child, sweeping and mopping.
When he is in school, he works with Luke 14, a special needs student project through Manley Baptist Church.
On the field, he has picked up where he left off following his All-America junior campaign. Williams is third on the team in tackles with 16 and has three tackles for a loss and a sack to go along with a pick.
Williams and Wingate's Trevor Bryan are the lone SAC players on the listing.
DIVISION II
Ashland (OH) - Tony Pannunzio
Bentley (MA) - Joe Rivers
Black Hills State (SD) - Aaron Thiele
Carson-Newman (TN) - Major Williams
Colorado State Pueblo - Jon Nuschy
East Stroudsburg (PA) - John Siggins
Hillsdale (MI) - Logan VanEnkevort
Minnesota State, Mankato - Marshall Foerner
New Haven (CT) - Joseph Vitale
Northern State (SD) - Jacob Schloe
Northwest Missouri State - Andrew Dumas
Ouachita Baptist (AR) - Kendel Givens
Penn Western, California - Jaheim Bassham
Pittsburg State (KS) - Chad Dodson
Slippery Rock (PA) - Brayden Long
Southwest Baptist (MO) - Logan Turner
Wayne State (MI) - Griffin Milovanski
Wingate (NC) - Trevor Bryan
