Jackson Named a Semifinalist for the William V. Campbell Trophy
10/1/2020 11:00:00 AM | Football
Award is presented to college football’s premier scholar-athlete by the NFF
IRVING, Texas – Coastal Carolina football's Tarron Jackson was named a semifinalist for the 2020 William V. Campbell Trophy® presented by Mazda, the National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame (NFF) announced today. Jackson is one of a record 199 semifinalists for the award given to college football's premier scholar-athlete award.
Celebrating its 31st year, 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. The NFF will announce 12-to-14 finalists in November, and each of them will receive an $18,000 postgraduate scholarship as a member of the 2020 NFF National Scholar-Athlete Class presented by Fidelity Investments. Later this year, one member of the class will be declared as the winner of the 31st Campbell Trophy® presented by Mazda, having his postgraduate scholarship increased to $25,000 and receiving his own 25-pound-bronze version of the iconic statue.
The redshirt senior defensive end received several preseason accolades this season including being named to the preseason All-Sun Belt first team by the league's coaches. Jackson was also named to the preseason watch list for the 2020 Bronko Nagurski Trophy presented by LendingTree, the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA), in conjunction with the Charlotte Touchdown Club, and the Bednarik Award watch list, an award presented annually to the College Defensive Player of the Year by the Maxwell Football Club.
The fifth-year Chant was also a 2020 preseason first-team All-Sun Belt selection by Phil Steele, Athlon Sports, Lindy's, and College Football News (CFN), and named to the 2020 College Football America Yearbook (CFA) Group of 5 Preseason Starting Lineup this preseason.
A two-time All-Sun Belt selection, earning first team honors in 2019 after third team recognition in 2018, Jackson led the Sun Belt and set a new Coastal single-season record with 10.0 sacks last season. His 72 yards lost from his 10.0 sacks was also a CCU single-season record. He also led the team and ranked fifth in the Sun Belt with 13.0 tackles-for-loss, of which 9.5 came in conference play, and was second on the team with a total of 60 tackles on the season. He added a school-record 13 quarterback hurries, forced two fumbles, and tallied two pass breakups from his defensive end position.
A second-year team captain this season, Jackson has totaled six tackles, 2.0 tackles-for-loss, and six quarterback hurries over the Chants' first two games all while being double-teamed or chipped by the opposing offense over 60 percent of the time. However, his presence is seen more than on the stat sheet, as fellow defensive lineman C.J. Brewer (11 tackles, 4.5 TFL, 3.5 sacks) and Jerrod Clark (9 tackles, 1.5 TFL, 1.0 sacks) are off to great starts while the CCU defense ranks fourth in the nation in sacks with 10.0 on the year.
Nominated by their schools, which are limited to one nominee each, candidates for the awards 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. 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.
For complete coverage of CCU football, follow the Chants on social media @CoastalFootball (Twitter), facebook.com/CCUChanticleers (Facebook), @GoCCUSports (Instagram) or visit the official home of Coastal Carolina Athletics at www.GoCCUSports.com.
Celebrating its 31st year, 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. The NFF will announce 12-to-14 finalists in November, and each of them will receive an $18,000 postgraduate scholarship as a member of the 2020 NFF National Scholar-Athlete Class presented by Fidelity Investments. Later this year, one member of the class will be declared as the winner of the 31st Campbell Trophy® presented by Mazda, having his postgraduate scholarship increased to $25,000 and receiving his own 25-pound-bronze version of the iconic statue.
The redshirt senior defensive end received several preseason accolades this season including being named to the preseason All-Sun Belt first team by the league's coaches. Jackson was also named to the preseason watch list for the 2020 Bronko Nagurski Trophy presented by LendingTree, the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA), in conjunction with the Charlotte Touchdown Club, and the Bednarik Award watch list, an award presented annually to the College Defensive Player of the Year by the Maxwell Football Club.
The fifth-year Chant was also a 2020 preseason first-team All-Sun Belt selection by Phil Steele, Athlon Sports, Lindy's, and College Football News (CFN), and named to the 2020 College Football America Yearbook (CFA) Group of 5 Preseason Starting Lineup this preseason.
A two-time All-Sun Belt selection, earning first team honors in 2019 after third team recognition in 2018, Jackson led the Sun Belt and set a new Coastal single-season record with 10.0 sacks last season. His 72 yards lost from his 10.0 sacks was also a CCU single-season record. He also led the team and ranked fifth in the Sun Belt with 13.0 tackles-for-loss, of which 9.5 came in conference play, and was second on the team with a total of 60 tackles on the season. He added a school-record 13 quarterback hurries, forced two fumbles, and tallied two pass breakups from his defensive end position.
A second-year team captain this season, Jackson has totaled six tackles, 2.0 tackles-for-loss, and six quarterback hurries over the Chants' first two games all while being double-teamed or chipped by the opposing offense over 60 percent of the time. However, his presence is seen more than on the stat sheet, as fellow defensive lineman C.J. Brewer (11 tackles, 4.5 TFL, 3.5 sacks) and Jerrod Clark (9 tackles, 1.5 TFL, 1.0 sacks) are off to great starts while the CCU defense ranks fourth in the nation in sacks with 10.0 on the year.
Nominated by their schools, which are limited to one nominee each, candidates for the awards 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. 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.
For complete coverage of CCU football, follow the Chants on social media @CoastalFootball (Twitter), facebook.com/CCUChanticleers (Facebook), @GoCCUSports (Instagram) or visit the official home of Coastal Carolina Athletics at www.GoCCUSports.com.
Players Mentioned
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