Contact: Clark Teuscher, Sports Information Director, 630-637-5302

Natioanl Football Foundation News Release

Oct. 23, 2024 - North Central College quarterback Luke Lehnen is one of 16 college football players nationwide this season, and the first in the history of the Cardinals' program, to be selected as a finalist for the William V. Campbell Trophy, which recognizes the student-athlete with the best combination of academic success, football performance and exemplary leadership. The National Football Foundation (NFF) announced this year's finalists Wednesday.

Each of the 16 finalists will receive an $18,000 postgraduate scholarship as a member of the 2024 NFF National Scholar-Athlete Class, presented by Fidelity Investments. Lehnen and the other finalists were selected from a record-high number of 204 semifinalists nationwide from each of the NCAA's three divisions and the NAIA. Lehnen is the seventh representative of the College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) to be so honored and the first since 2018.

"We are extremely honored to have Luke chosen as a finalist for this prestigious award, especially in a year with so many quality nominees," said North Central head coach Brad Spencer '04. "Luke is and has been the finest example of a Cardinal student-athlete on the field, off the field, and in the classroom. We are blessed to have him representing North Central College!"
 
In his fourth season as North Central's starting quarterback, Lehnen has helped lead the Cardinals to a 48-2 overall record, including three College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) championships and three trips to the NCAA Division III national championship game, the Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl. North Central went undefeated in winning its second national title in 2022.

In 2023, Lehnen was selected as the winner of the Gagliardi Trophy, the premier individual award in Division III football, as North Central made history by becoming the first Division III program to receive the award three times in four seasons. Lehnen was also selected as the D3football.com National Offensive Player of the Year, a First Team All-American by D3football.com and the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA), a Second Team All-American by the Associated Press, and the CCIW Art Keller Offensive Student-Athlete of the Year as well as a First Team Academic All-American by College Sports Communicators (CSC) for the second straight year.

Lehnen established new all-divisions collegiate records for passing efficiency (263.2), yards per pass (14.7) and yards per completion (20.0) in 2023, remains on pace to set a new all-divisions record for career passing efficiency (210.4), and is the only player in college football history to complete at least one touchdown pass in 50 consecutive games. Lehnen has accounted for 177 touchdowns (42 rushing, 135 passing) as a collegian, leaving him one short of the Division III record of 178, and is one of only three players in any division to record at least 40 rushing touchdowns and 100 passing touchdowns.

Thus far this season, the Cardinals are 6-0 (5-0 CCIW) and have been ranked No. 1 by D3football.com and the AFCA in every national Top 25 poll thus far. Lehnen has completed 78 of 117 passes (66.7 percent) for 1,325 yards and 16 touchdowns while rushing for 343 yards and six scores, piloting a North Central offense which currently leads all Division III teams in scoring offense (57.0 points per game). The Cardinals are the only collegiate team this season to score at least 48 points in every game.

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 2024 season or be a graduated player or grad transfer who has already earned a bachelor's degree and will participate in the 2024 season; must have 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.

The finalists will be recognized at the NFF Annual Awards Dinner at the Bellagio Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas on Dec. 10. One member of the class will be declared as the 35th winner of the Campbell Tropphy and have his postgraduate scholarship increased to $25,000.

Lehnen and Carnegie Mellon University (Pennsylvania) linebacker Robert Coury are the lone Division III representatives among this year's finalists. Other finalists include running back Tahj Brooks of Texas Tech, quarterback Jaxson Dart of the University of Mississippi, defensive back Beau Freyler of Iowa State University, quarterback Dillon Gabriel of the University of Oregon, defensive lineman Ashton Gillotte of the University of Louisville, defensive end Brody Grebe of Montana State University, quarterback Mark Gronowski of South Dakota State University, linebacker Terrance Hollon of Howard University (D.C.), linebacker Jack Kiser of the University of Notre Dame, quarterback Brayden Long of Slippery Rock University (Pennsylvania), center Jake Majors of the University of Texas, center Seth McLaughlin of Ohio State University, quarterback Jalen Milroe of the University of Alabama, and linebacker Jackson Woodard of the University of Nevada-Las Vegas.

The Cardinals travel to face Augustana College Saturday at Lindberg Stadium in Rock Island. Kickoff is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. Click HERE for the full 2024 schedule and live coverage options.

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