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Thirty-six former NFF National Scholar-Athletes/William V. Campbell Trophy® finalists appear on NFL rosters or practice squads as the 2024 regular season begins this week.
The group includes five recipients of the Campbell Trophy®: The Detroit Lions' Jack Campbell (Iowa-2022), Los Angeles Chargers' Justin Herbert (Oregon-2019), Baltimore Ravens' Charlie Kolar (Iowa State-2021), Denver Broncos' Bo Nix (Oregon-2023) and Las Vegas Raiders' Christian Wilkins (Clemson-2018); six Pro Bowlers; and six first-round picks.
The total includes eight members of the most recent NFF National Scholar-Athlete Class presented by Fidelity Investments: Cooper Beebe (Dallas Cowboys - Kansas State), JD Bertrand (Atlanta Falcons - Notre Dame), DeWayne Carter (Buffalo Bills - Duke), Olumuyiwa Fashanu (New York Jets - Penn State), Zach Frazier (Pittsburgh Steelers - West Virginia), Ladd McConkey (Los Angeles Chargers - Georgia), Bo Nix (Denver Broncos - Oregon), Zak Zinter (Cleveland Browns - Michigan).
The Los Angeles Chargers lead all NFL teams with four NFF National Scholar-Athletes on their roster, including Herbert, WR Ladd McConkey (Georgia - 2023), DB Elijah Molden (Washington - 2020) and QB Easton Stick (North Dakota State - 2018).
Twenty-three NFL teams boast at least one former NFF National Scholar-Athlete, led by the Chargers with four and the Atlanta Falcons with three. The Buffalo Bills, Dallas Cowboys, Denver Broncos, Detroit Lions, Kansas City Chiefs, Minnesota Vikings, New Orleans Saints, New York Jets all feature two NFF National Scholar-Athletes on their rosters.
The list contains nine quarterbacks, leading all positions. QB Kirk Cousins (Michigan State – 2011) is the most experienced NFF National Scholar-Athlete on the list in the NFL as he enters his 14th season.
The 36 NFF National Scholar-Athletes on NFL rosters or practice squads are:
(School and year honored listed in parentheses)
Arizona Cardinals
Zay Jones, WR (East Carolina, 2016)
Carolina Panthers
Jordan Fuller, S (Ohio State, 2019)
Cleveland Browns
Zak Zinter, G (Michigan, 2023)
Las Vegas Raiders
Christian Wilkins, DL (Clemson, 2018)
Pittsburgh Steelers
Zach Frazier, C (West Virginia, 2023)
Washington Commanders
Max Scharping, OL (Northern Illinois, 2018)
Atlanta Falcons
Troy Andersen, LB (Montana State, 2021)
JD Bertrand, LB (Notre Dame, 2023)
Kirk Cousins, QB (Michigan State, 2011)
Baltimore Ravens
Charlie Kolar, TE (Iowa State, 2021)
Buffalo Bills
DeWayne Carter, DT (Duke, 2023)
Casey Toohill, DE (Stanford, 2019)
Dallas Cowboys
Cooper Beebe, G (Kansas State, 2023)
Cooper Rush, QB (Central Michigan, 2016)
Denver Broncos
Matt Henningsen, DE (Wisconsin, 2021)
Bo Nix, QB (Oregon, 2023)
Detroit Lions
Jack Campbell, LB (Iowa , 2022)
Aidan Hutchinson, DE (Michigan, 2021)
Indianapolis Colts
Sam Ehlinger, QB (Texas, 2020)
Kansas City Chiefs
Mike Caliendo, OL (Western Michigan, 2021)
Drue Tranquill, LB (Notre Dame, 2018)
Los Angeles Chargers
Justin Herbert, QB (Oregon, 2019)
Ladd McConkey, WR (Georgia, 2023)
Elijah Molden, DB (Washington, 2020)
Easton Stick, QB (North Dakota State, 2018)
Miami Dolphins
Braxton Berrios, WR (Miami (FL), 2017)
Minnesota Vikings
Dalton Risner, OL (Kansas State, 2018)
Walter Rouse, OT (Stanford , 2022)
New Orleans Saints
Derek Carr, QB (Fresno State, 2013)
Taysom Hill, QB (BYU, 2016)
New York Jets
Olumuyiwa Fashanu, OT (Penn State, 2023)
Adrian Martinez, QB (Kansas State , 2022)
Philadelphia Eagles
Thomas Booker IV, DL (Stanford, 2021)
San Francisco 49ers
Jake Brendel, C (UCLA, 2015)
Seattle Seahawks
Tyler Lockett, WR (Kansas State, 2014)
Tennessee Titans
Jack Gibbens, LB (Abilene Christian/Minnesota), 2020)
NFF William V. Campbell Trophy® recipient
There are also four former NFF National Scholar-Athletes who are unrestricted free agents: Buffalo Bills QB Matt Barkley (Southern California, 2012), New England Patriots S Cody Davis (Texas Tech, 2012), Tennessee Titans QB Ryan Tannehill (Texas A&M, 2011) and Pittsburgh Steelers Chandon Sullivan (Georgia State, 2017)
photo from Utah Athletics
Alex Smith who will be inducted into this years College Football Hall of Fame will also become the first Utah Utes Football Player to enter Utahs Football Ring of Honor.
photo from National Football Foundation Good of the Game
Congratulations to College Football Hall of Famer and NFF Trustee Archie Griffin on the unveiling of The Archie Griffin Statue and Legacy Walk dedication at the Rose Bowl. The new statue was unveiled Aug. 17 by the Rose Bowl Legacy Foundation, celebrating the 50th anniversary of Archie’s first Heisman Trophy.
The National Football Foundation’s Good in the Game Podcast, hosted by 2022 Hall of Fame inductee LaVar Arrington, has dropped
The podcast will be released twice a month, with LaVar Arrington telling stories about the good in the game through exclusive interviews, in-depth discussions and analysis featuring some of the biggest names in the game!