IRVING, Texas — The National Football Foundation (NFF) announced Wednesday that Tennessee redshirt senior linebacker Keenan Pili is one of 203 semifinalists for the William V. Campbell Trophy – college football’s premier scholar-athlete award.
Celebrating its 35th 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.
In his seventh season of college football and second as a captain of the Tennessee defense, Pili has registered more than 200 total tackles in 41 career games. He ranks second on the team this season with 14 total stops and has served as a key leader on a defensive unit that ranks among the nation’s best in several statistical categories, including first in the FBS in total defense (176.0 yards allowed per game) and second nationally in rushing defense (50.8).
The outstanding linebacker from Las Vegas, Nevada, is one of seven Campbell Trophy semifinalists who have already earned a master’s degree. Pili received his undergraduate degree in exercise science from BYU in December 2022 and earned his master’s in agricultural leadership, education and communication from Tennessee in May 2024.
Prior to the 2024 campaign, Pili was recognized on the Polynesian College Football Player of the Year watch list and named a member of the NFF Hampshire Honor Society.
The NFF will announce 12-14 finalists on Oct. 23, and each of them will receive an $18,000 postgraduate scholarship as a member of the 2024 NFF National Scholar-Athlete Class Presented by Fidelity Investments. The finalists will travel to the Bellagio Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas for the 66th NFF Annual Awards Dinner Presented by Las Vegas on Dec. 10, 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 35th Campbell Trophy® and have his postgraduate scholarship increased to $25,000.
Nominated by their schools, which are limited to one nominee each, candidates for the awards must be a senior who will complete his final year of eligibility in the 2024 season or graduate student or graduate transfer who has already earned a degree and participating in the 2024 season; 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.
