Botner a semifinalist for the “Academic Heisman”
9/24/2025 2:49:00 PM | Football
Montana starting center Dillon Botner added to his extensive off-field resume on Wednesday as one of just five players from the Big Sky Conference to be named a semifinalist for the National Football Foundation's William V. Campbell Trophy, also known as the "Academic Heisman."
Now in its 36th 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.
Semifinalists must be a senior or graduate student in their final year of playing eligibility, hold at least a 3.2 GPA on a 4.0 scale, have outstanding football ability as a first team player or significant contributor, and have demonstrated strong leadership and citizenship.
In his seven years at Montana, Botner has far exceeded those standards in every category.
With eyes set on medical school and a career as an orthopedic surgeon, the Whitefish native has earned bachelor's degrees with Magna Cum Laude honors in biochemistry, biology, and neuroscience. He's also earned a minor in physics and is currently pursuing a graduate certificate in business entrepreneurship, all while maintaining a 3.70 GPA and balancing D-I football at the same time. He's the only one of the 177 semifinalists to have obtained three bachelor's degrees.
On the field he's started every game this season at center to bring his career total to six starts and 42 total appearances for the Griz. A four-time letterman, he was the team's 2024 Tony Barbour Award Winner for "most inspirational player" after battling back from knee injury. A week one team captain, he's been a part of offensive lines that have helped pave the way for rushing attacks that have averaged nearly 200 yards on the ground. Three weeks into his final season of eligibility, he's gone 48-15 in his career as a Grizzly and helped lead the team to the 2023 Big Sky Championship.
An active member of the Missoula community, he's put in over 46 hours of volunteer work in his time as Grizzly as well. He's volunteered at high school sporting events, helped lead Montana's National Marrow Donor Registry efforts, assisted elderly neighbors of the university rake fall leaves, seeded a burn scar from a fire on Mt. Sentinel, assisted with youth football camps and clinics, and much more.
Montana has a long history of success with the Campbell Trophy. In 2019, Buck Buchanan Award-winning linebacker Dante Olson was named one of 18 finalists for the award, won that year by Oregon's Justin Herbert. In 2015, Grizzly defensive end Derek Crittenden (also a finalist for the prestigious Rhodes Scholarship) was named a finalist as well and flew to New York for the annual NFF Awards Dinner.
Dave Dickenson was a finalist for the Campbell Trophy in 1995 and attended to the 2018 NFF Awards Banquet in New York as an inductee into the College Football Hall of Fame. Other Grizzlies to be named a finalist and scholar-athlete include Josh Branen (1997) Sam Gratton (2012), and Grizzly Sports Hall of Famer Vince Huntsberger (2001).
More recently, Trevin Grandey and TraJon Cotton were named semifinalists in 2023 and '24, while record holder Robby Hauck, NFL tackle Dylan Cook, NFL receiver Samori Toure, and D-end Reggie Tilleman were all named semifinalists as well.
"This year's 177 semifinalists represent the very best of what it means to play college football," said NFF Chairman Archie Manning, whose sons Peyton (Campbell Trophy winner) and Eli were named NFF National Scholar-Athletes in 1997 and 2003, respectively.
"They have excelled in the classroom, distinguished themselves on the field, and proven to be leaders in their communities. The Campbell Trophy stands as a reminder that football develops complete individuals, and these young men embody that tradition at the highest level."
The NFF will announce 12-16 finalists on Oct. 22, and each of them will receive an $18,000 postgraduate scholarship as a member of the 2025 NFF National Scholar-Athlete Class Presented by Fidelity Investments.
The finalists will travel to the Bellagio Resort & Casino in Las Vegas for the 67th NFF Annual Awards Dinner Presented by Las Vegas on Dec. 9, 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 36th Campbell Trophy and have his postgraduate scholarship increased to $25,000.
Now in its 36th 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.
Semifinalists must be a senior or graduate student in their final year of playing eligibility, hold at least a 3.2 GPA on a 4.0 scale, have outstanding football ability as a first team player or significant contributor, and have demonstrated strong leadership and citizenship.
In his seven years at Montana, Botner has far exceeded those standards in every category.
With eyes set on medical school and a career as an orthopedic surgeon, the Whitefish native has earned bachelor's degrees with Magna Cum Laude honors in biochemistry, biology, and neuroscience. He's also earned a minor in physics and is currently pursuing a graduate certificate in business entrepreneurship, all while maintaining a 3.70 GPA and balancing D-I football at the same time. He's the only one of the 177 semifinalists to have obtained three bachelor's degrees.
On the field he's started every game this season at center to bring his career total to six starts and 42 total appearances for the Griz. A four-time letterman, he was the team's 2024 Tony Barbour Award Winner for "most inspirational player" after battling back from knee injury. A week one team captain, he's been a part of offensive lines that have helped pave the way for rushing attacks that have averaged nearly 200 yards on the ground. Three weeks into his final season of eligibility, he's gone 48-15 in his career as a Grizzly and helped lead the team to the 2023 Big Sky Championship.
An active member of the Missoula community, he's put in over 46 hours of volunteer work in his time as Grizzly as well. He's volunteered at high school sporting events, helped lead Montana's National Marrow Donor Registry efforts, assisted elderly neighbors of the university rake fall leaves, seeded a burn scar from a fire on Mt. Sentinel, assisted with youth football camps and clinics, and much more.
Montana has a long history of success with the Campbell Trophy. In 2019, Buck Buchanan Award-winning linebacker Dante Olson was named one of 18 finalists for the award, won that year by Oregon's Justin Herbert. In 2015, Grizzly defensive end Derek Crittenden (also a finalist for the prestigious Rhodes Scholarship) was named a finalist as well and flew to New York for the annual NFF Awards Dinner.
Dave Dickenson was a finalist for the Campbell Trophy in 1995 and attended to the 2018 NFF Awards Banquet in New York as an inductee into the College Football Hall of Fame. Other Grizzlies to be named a finalist and scholar-athlete include Josh Branen (1997) Sam Gratton (2012), and Grizzly Sports Hall of Famer Vince Huntsberger (2001).
More recently, Trevin Grandey and TraJon Cotton were named semifinalists in 2023 and '24, while record holder Robby Hauck, NFL tackle Dylan Cook, NFL receiver Samori Toure, and D-end Reggie Tilleman were all named semifinalists as well.
"This year's 177 semifinalists represent the very best of what it means to play college football," said NFF Chairman Archie Manning, whose sons Peyton (Campbell Trophy winner) and Eli were named NFF National Scholar-Athletes in 1997 and 2003, respectively.
"They have excelled in the classroom, distinguished themselves on the field, and proven to be leaders in their communities. The Campbell Trophy stands as a reminder that football develops complete individuals, and these young men embody that tradition at the highest level."
The NFF will announce 12-16 finalists on Oct. 22, and each of them will receive an $18,000 postgraduate scholarship as a member of the 2025 NFF National Scholar-Athlete Class Presented by Fidelity Investments.
The finalists will travel to the Bellagio Resort & Casino in Las Vegas for the 67th NFF Annual Awards Dinner Presented by Las Vegas on Dec. 9, 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 36th Campbell Trophy and have his postgraduate scholarship increased to $25,000.
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