UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. –The National Football Foundation (NFF) and College Hall of Fame announced on Wednesday Penn State offensive lineman Olumuyiwa Fashanu has been selected as one of 16 finalists for the 2023 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.
Fashanu will each receive an $18,000 postgraduate scholarship as a member of the 2023 NFF National Scholar-Athlete Class Presented by Fidelity Investments. He was selected from an impressive list of 201 semifinalists nationwide from among all NCAA divisions and the NAIA.
Fashanu will travel to the 65th NFF Annual Awards Dinner in Las Vegas on Dec. 5, where one of 16 finalists will be named the winner of the 34th Campbell Trophy® and have their postgraduate scholarship increased to $25,000.
The left tackle owns a 3.45 GPA in Supply Chain and Information Systems. He is Penn State's 20th all-time member of the Scholar-Athlete Class and the first since Sean Clifford in 2021. John Urschel won the Campbell Trophy in 2013.
Fashanu's 2023 Bio
Awards: Midseason: Named a William V. Campbell Trophy Finalist. Weekly: Tabbed Outland Trophy National Player of the Week (9/26). Preseason: Named an Associated Press, Sporting News and PFF preseason first-team All-American...Earned a spot on the William V. Campbell Trophy, Walter Camp Player of the Year, Lombardi Award, Outland Trophy and Reese's Senior Bowl watch lists.
Season: Has started all seven games at left tackle...Named a team captain at the conclusion of spring practice...Earned the coaching staff's Offensive Player of the Week (Iowa, 9/23).
West Virginia (9/2): Allowed zero pressures on 31 pass protection snaps...Helped lead the Penn State offense to 478 total yards in the victory...Helped Drew Allar set career high marks in touchdown passes (3), passing yards (325), completions (21) and attempts (29). Delaware (9/9): Did not allow a pressure in 12 pass protection snaps...Penn State tallied 541 total yards on offense, including 315 yards on the ground...The Nittany Lions ran 91 offensive plays and held the ball for a time of possession of 42:22...Kaytron Allen rushed for 103 yards on 19 carries and touchdown, while Nicholas Singleton scored three touchdowns on the ground. at Illinois (9/16): Helped the Penn State offense score 20 points off turnovers...Allen and Singleton each accounted for rushing touchdowns, while Trey Potts threw a touchdown to Tyler Warren. Iowa (9/23): Helped Penn State scored on drives of 17, 10 15 and 12 plays...The Nittany Lions held the ball for 13:26 of the third quarter and finished the game with 45:27 of possession...Helped PSU rush for 215 yards. at Northwestern (9/30): Penn State threw totaled 353 yards of offense, including 219 yards through the air...Singleton accounted for 119 yards of offense. UMass (10/14): Played both center and guard...The Nittany Lions rushed for 246 yards and finished with 408 yards of offense in the 63-0 win...Drew Allar accounted for four total touchdowns, including three passing.
ABOUT THE NATIONAL COLLEGE FOOTBALL AWARDS ASSOCIATION
The William V. Campbell Trophy® is a member of the National College Football Awards Association (NCFAA), which encompasses the most prestigious awards in college football. Founded in 1997, the NCFAA and its 24 awards now boast over 900 recipients, dating to 1935. Visit ncfaa.org to learn more about the association.
ABOUT THE NATIONAL FOOTBALL FOUNDATION & COLLEGE HALL OF FAME
Founded in 1947 with early leadership from General Douglas MacArthur, legendary Army coach Earl "Red" Blaik and immortal journalist Grantland Rice, The National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame is a non-profit educational organization that runs programs designed to use the power of amateur football in developing scholarship, citizenship, and athletic achievement in young people. With 120 chapters in 47 states, NFF programs include the criteria, selection and induction of members of the College Football Hall of Fame; the Chick-fil-A College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta; Future For Football; The William V. Campbell Trophy®; the NFF National Scholar-Athlete Class Presented by Fidelity Investments; the NFF National High School Academic Excellence Awards presented by the Rose Bowl Legacy Foundation & Hatchell Cup presented by the Original Bob's Steak & Chop House; and a series of programs and initiatives to honor the legends of the past and inspire the leaders of the future. NFF corporate partners include Catapult, Delta Air Lines, Fidelity Investments, Hanold Associates Executive Search, Jostens, the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, the New York Athletic Club, the Rose Bowl Legacy Foundation and the Sports Business Journal. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter @NFFNetwork and learn more at footballfoundation.org.
For information on joining the Nittany Lion Club and ticket information for the 2023 Penn State Football season presented by PSECU, as well as club seating in Beaver Stadium, fans can visit www.PSUnrivaled.com, or call 1-800-NITTANY weekdays from 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
