ALAMOSA, CO- Adams State University senior defensive back Seth Shaw has been selected as a semifinalist for the prestigious 2026 William V. Campbell Trophy, recognized as college football's premier scholar-athlete award.

Often referred to as the "Academic Heisman," the Campbell Trophy recognizes the nation's best football scholar-athlete for a combination of academic success, on-field performance, and exemplary leadership.

Background and Collegiate Career

Hailing from Imperial, California, Shaw is a product of Imperial High School, where he earned a spot on the honor roll before taking his talents to the collegiate level. Standing at 5-7 and 175 pounds, the senior defensive back is majoring in psychology at Adams State.

After redshirting in 2023, Shaw carved out an integral role in the Grizzlies' secondary. His breakout junior campaign came in 2024, when he appeared in all 11 games and anchored the defense with 54 total tackles, 0.5 tackles for loss, and one interception. Known for his relentless work ethic and consistency on the gridiron, he has remained a core contributor for Adams State into the 2026 season.

National and Conference Recognition

Shaw is one of a record 206 semifinalists across all divisions of college football—including NCAA Divisions I, II, III, and the NAIA—named to the initial 2026 list compiled by the National Football Foundation (NFF) & College Football Hall of Fame.

From that massive pool, Shaw is one of only 19 student-athletes chosen from across NCAA Division II. He is also one of four standout players representing the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC), alongside Black Hills State safety Jack Gentile, CSU Pueblo running back Moosah Alsaffar, and Western Colorado linebacker Ian Loomis.

Next Steps for the Award

To be eligible, nominees must be a senior or graduate student in their final year of eligibility, have a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.2 on a 4.0 scale, and demonstrate strong leadership and citizenship.
The National Football Foundation will narrow the field down by announcing between 12 and 16 finalists on October 21, 2026. Finalists will receive an $18,000 postgraduate scholarship as members of the 2026 NFF National Scholar-Athlete Class and will travel to Las Vegas in December, where the ultimate winner of the 37th Campbell Trophy will have his scholarship increased to $25,000.

Read Full Article HERE

Credit: Tim Simmons