McLoughlin Named Semifinalist For NFF’s Campbell Trophy

On Wednesday (Sept. 27) morning, Ashland University senior wide receiver Jake McLoughlin was announced as a semifinalist for the 2023 National Football Foundation William V. Campbell Trophy.
 
The award recognizes an individual as the absolute best in the country for his combined academic success, football performance and exemplary leadership, and the candidates also comprise the pool of nominees for the 2023 NFF National Scholar-Athlete Awards.
 
Each nominee must be a senior or graduate student in their final year of eligibility, have a grade-point average 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 candidates come from all levels of play in the NCAA and the NAIA. McLoughlin is one of 201 semifinalists nationwide, and the NFF will announce 12-14 finalists on Oct. 25, with each receiving an $18,000 postgraduate scholarship. The finalists will travel to the ARIA Resort & Casino in Las Vegas for the 65th NFF Annual Awards Dinner on Dec. 5, and one member of the class will be declared the winner of the 34th Campbell Trophy, with the postgraduate scholarship increased to $25,000.
 
So far in 2023, McLoughlin has seven catches for 60 yards and a touchdown, and three total tackles. In his AU career, McLoughlin has caught 52 passes for 771 yards and five touchdowns, and has 21 total tackles and two forced fumbles.
 
He is one of five Eagle captains this season.
 
McLoughlin sported a 3.54 cumulative GPA as an undergrad, and is working on his MBA in Executive Management. He has been involved in Ashland's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, has been a tutor on the football team, is one of the program's accountability captains. Within the community, he has helped at multiple kids camps, help set up annual celebrations in Ashland such as BalloonFest, and has traveled across Ohio and helped at different Special Olympics with a wide age range of participants.
  2023 – Jake McLoughlin
2022 – Austin Brenner
2021 – Austin Phillips
2020 – Logan Bolin
2019 – Clay Shreve
2018 – Travis Downing
2017 – Dominic Giunta
2016 – Zach Bernhard
2015 – Jon Cipa