Pannunzio Announced As NFF Campbell Trophy Semifinalist

As announced by the National Football Foundation (NFF) & College Hall of Fame on Wednesday (Sept. 25) afternoon, Ashland University senior wide receiver Tony Pannunzio is one of a record 203 semifinalists for the 2024 NFF William V. Campbell Trophy.
 
College's football premier scholar-athlete award in its 35^th 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.
 
Pannunzio recently was announced as the Ashland 2023-24 Male Student-Athlete of the Year. Last year, he caught 24 passes for 257 yards and three touchdowns, made 13 total tackles (11 solo) and a blocked field goal, helped the Eagles win eight straight games to finish at 9-3, and earned College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-District honors.

So far in 2024, Pannunzio has seven catches for 69 yards.
 
Through the 2024 spring semester, Pannunzio has a cumulative grade-point average of 3.91 as a Biology major. His leadership and service activities include the Make Ashland Sparkle spring event, the Loudonville Flag Football Combine/Mini-Camp, and more.
 
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.
 
Nominated by their schools, which are limited to one nominee each, candidates for the awards must be a senior who will complete his final year of eligibility in the 2024 season or graduate student or graduate transfer who has already earned a degree and participating in the 2024 season; 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 class is selected each year by the NFF Awards Committee, which is comprised of a nationally recognized group of media, College Football Hall of Famers and athletics administrators.