Olson a semifinalist for the William V. Campbell Trophy
9/25/2019 12:58:00 PM | Football
Montana linebacker Dante Olson added to his impressive off-field resume on Wednesday as one of just four players from the Big Sky Conference, and one of only 39 FCS players named as a semifinalist for the National Football Foundation's William V. Campbell Trophy.
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Celebrating its 30th year in 2019, the award recognizes an individual as the absolute best football scholar-athlete in the nation for his combined academic success, football performance, and exemplary leadership.
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The NFF will choose 12-14 finalists for the Campbell Trophy from the extensive list of 185 semifinalists that represent every level of college football in October. Each finalist will receive an $18,000 postgraduate scholarship as a member of the NFF's 2019 National Scholar-Athlete Class. Each finalist will be flown to New York City for the 62nd NFF Annual Awards Dinner on Dec. 10. The winner of the Campbell Trophy will be announced live during the event and will have his postgraduate scholarship increased to $25,000.
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Known as the "Academic Heisman," candidates for the Campbell Trophy must be a senior or graduate student in their final year of playing eligibility, 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.
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On the field, Olson was one of the top defensive football players in the country at any level in 2018 as a finalist for the Buck Buchanan Award and the NCAA Statistical Champion for tackles per game (13.7). His 151 total tackles shattered the Montana school record and earned him a place on seven different All-America teams.
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Now four games into his senior season, Olson is averaging 10.8 tackles per game, including a game-high 14 total (10 solo) against the Pac-12 favorite Oregon Ducks. He was named the Big Sky Conference Preseason MVP, was named to eight different preseason All-America and all-conference teams, and was the only FCS player named to the Butkus Award Watch List.
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In the classroom, Olson is a model student. He was named to the FCS Athletic Director's Association Academic All-Star Team in 2018, is a three-time Academic All-Big Sky Conference selection, and maintains a 3.9 cumulative GPA with four different semesters with a perfect 4.0.
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In the community, Olson has carried on a Grizzly tradition of adopting a classroom of underprivileged kids and serving as their mentor and pen-pal, encouraging them to pursue a college education in conjunction with the "No Excuses University" program. When he first began the relationship, he traveled to California to meet the class and continues to skype with them and answer letters regularly. Later this week, his adopted class will travel to Montana's game at UC Davis to see him play, meet him in person after the game, and learn what college life is like.
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For his efforts in the community, Olson was named to the prestigious Allstate AFCA Good Works Team, one of just 22 student-athletes at all levels of college football to earn a place on the team. As a member of the Good Works Team, he will be flown to the 2020 Sugar Bowl in New Orleans and introduced on the field at halftime. While in New Orleans, he will also join former Good Works Team member Tim Tebow for a special community service project.
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The last Grizzly to be selected as a finalist for the Campbell Trophy was in 2015 when Derek Crittenden earned the $18,000 postgraduate scholarship and traveled to New York for the awards dinner. Former Grizzly defensive end Reggie Tilleman was a semifinalist for the award in 2018.
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Other Grizzlies to be named a finalist for the Campbell Trophy include Dave Dickenson (1995), who was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame last year at the same event in New York, Josh Branen (1997) and Vince Huntsberger (2001).
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Celebrating its 30th year in 2019, the award recognizes an individual as the absolute best football scholar-athlete in the nation for his combined academic success, football performance, and exemplary leadership.
Â
The NFF will choose 12-14 finalists for the Campbell Trophy from the extensive list of 185 semifinalists that represent every level of college football in October. Each finalist will receive an $18,000 postgraduate scholarship as a member of the NFF's 2019 National Scholar-Athlete Class. Each finalist will be flown to New York City for the 62nd NFF Annual Awards Dinner on Dec. 10. The winner of the Campbell Trophy will be announced live during the event and will have his postgraduate scholarship increased to $25,000.
Â
Known as the "Academic Heisman," candidates for the Campbell Trophy must be a senior or graduate student in their final year of playing eligibility, 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.
Â
On the field, Olson was one of the top defensive football players in the country at any level in 2018 as a finalist for the Buck Buchanan Award and the NCAA Statistical Champion for tackles per game (13.7). His 151 total tackles shattered the Montana school record and earned him a place on seven different All-America teams.
Â
Now four games into his senior season, Olson is averaging 10.8 tackles per game, including a game-high 14 total (10 solo) against the Pac-12 favorite Oregon Ducks. He was named the Big Sky Conference Preseason MVP, was named to eight different preseason All-America and all-conference teams, and was the only FCS player named to the Butkus Award Watch List.
Â
In the classroom, Olson is a model student. He was named to the FCS Athletic Director's Association Academic All-Star Team in 2018, is a three-time Academic All-Big Sky Conference selection, and maintains a 3.9 cumulative GPA with four different semesters with a perfect 4.0.
Â
In the community, Olson has carried on a Grizzly tradition of adopting a classroom of underprivileged kids and serving as their mentor and pen-pal, encouraging them to pursue a college education in conjunction with the "No Excuses University" program. When he first began the relationship, he traveled to California to meet the class and continues to skype with them and answer letters regularly. Later this week, his adopted class will travel to Montana's game at UC Davis to see him play, meet him in person after the game, and learn what college life is like.
Â
For his efforts in the community, Olson was named to the prestigious Allstate AFCA Good Works Team, one of just 22 student-athletes at all levels of college football to earn a place on the team. As a member of the Good Works Team, he will be flown to the 2020 Sugar Bowl in New Orleans and introduced on the field at halftime. While in New Orleans, he will also join former Good Works Team member Tim Tebow for a special community service project.
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The last Grizzly to be selected as a finalist for the Campbell Trophy was in 2015 when Derek Crittenden earned the $18,000 postgraduate scholarship and traveled to New York for the awards dinner. Former Grizzly defensive end Reggie Tilleman was a semifinalist for the award in 2018.
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Other Grizzlies to be named a finalist for the Campbell Trophy include Dave Dickenson (1995), who was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame last year at the same event in New York, Josh Branen (1997) and Vince Huntsberger (2001).
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2019 SEMIFINALISTS FOR THE
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WILLIAM V. CAMPBELL TROPHY® PRESENTED BY MAZDA Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS)
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 Football Championship Subdivision (FCS)
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 Division II
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 Division III
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 NAIA
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Players Mentioned
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