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Nick Semptimphelter action shot
Sean Finucane

Nick Semptimphelter Selected as a NFF 2025 Campbell Trophy® Semifinalist

| By: Hannah Weiss, Senior Staff Writer

Semptimphelter is JCU's third Campbell Trophy® Semifinalist in three years

IRVING, Texas -- John Carroll quarterback Nick Semptimphelter has been nominated for one of college football's most prestigious honors, recognizing student-athletes who excel both on the field and in the classroom.

The William V. Campbell Trophy, as awarded by the National Football Foundation, is regarded as college football's premier scholar-athlete award, honoring NCAA and NAIA players who maintain at least a 3.2 GPA, with more than half of the nominees having already earned their bachelor's degree.

Each candidate is nominated by their respective schools in their final athletic season in which they must have an outstanding football ability and have demonstrated strong leadership and citizenship. 

Nick Semptimphelter is a semifinalist for the William V. Campbell Trophy. 

The Nashville, Tennessee native exemplifies everything this award represents. Since arriving in University Heights in fall 2024, he has made an immediate and lasting impact on the Blue Streaks program.

Semptimphelter's inaugural season after transferring from Bucknell University was nothing short of historic. In 2024, he set the program record for single-season completion percentage (76.1%), tied the mark for the most touchdown passes in a game with 6, and became the first quarterback in school history to complete 100% of his passes with at least 10 attempts. On top of that, he finished second in passing touchdowns (38) in a season.

Semptimphetler also left the OAC with the most passing touchdowns (38) and most passing yards per game (242.7) last year, leading him to be named to the All-OAC First Team. 

His standout 2024 campaign earned him a place on the 2025 Preseason All-American Third Team and his play this season is proving exactly why he belongs on that list.

The star quarterback has already made his mark on the NCAC, leading John Carroll to a decisive 63-0 win over Oberlin on Saturday, September 20. Semptimphelter was flawless through the air, going a perfect 8-for-8 for 143 yards and three touchdowns, sending a clear message that the Blue Streaks are here to dominate.

Back on September 9, Semptimphelter won NCAC Athlete of the Week honors after setting an NCAA Division III record for pass completion percentage (minimum 20 passes). Against Waynesburg, Semptimphelter finished 25-of-26 passing in a near impeccable season debut, setting the new D-III mark at 96.2%.

Off the field, Semptimphelter is a Graduate Assistant in the Muldoon Center for Entrepreneurship while pursuing his Master's in Business Administration (MBA) in the Boler School of Business. 

Semptimphelter's excellence on the field, leadership in the locker room, and dedication in the classroom make him a true model of what this prestigious award represents. Matt Wrather was a semifinalist in 2024 and Bricker Thiel was a semifinalist in 2023. 

The National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame will announce 12-16 finalists on October 22 and they will receive an $18,000 postgraduate scholarship as a new member of the 2025 NFF National Scholar-Athlete Class before moving on to the next stage of the selection process. 
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